Compare towns
Wilton vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k median).
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 | Plainfield | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,960Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±6.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.4 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,349±$21k 15% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
| Plainfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
| Plainfield and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,382±$70 7% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,612 14% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±39.9 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest 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 |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Wilton 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1 |
— | — |
| 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.