Compare towns
Wilton vs Bristol vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilton has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Wilton | Bristol | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,960Highest |
3,273Lowest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Wilton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±6.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Wilton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,349±$21kHighest 15% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Wilton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $381,500±$23kHighest 5% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Wilton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,382±$70Highest 7% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Wilton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,612Highest 14% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±39.9 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wilton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #54 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Newfound Area School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | Newfound Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.