Compare towns
Wilton vs Strafford vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Strafford | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,960Highest |
1,372Lowest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5.2 20% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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±$21kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19k 37% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Wilton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $381,500±$23k 15% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Strafford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,382±$70Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
| Wilton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,612Highest 144% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$6,078Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±39.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wilton and Strafford 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Strafford 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.