Living in Walpole, New Hampshire
Nestled in the heart of New Hampshire, Walpole is a charming small town that offers a unique blend of rural tranquility and suburban convenience. With just over 3,600 residents in the city limits and less than 500 in the village, Walpole is a place where you can truly get to know your neighbors and enjoy a sense of tight community. It strikes us as a safe town as well, with a Total Crime Index of 34, meaning it is 66% safer than the average town in the US.
According to Weatherspark.com, the summers are warm, the winters are freezing and snowy, and it is partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 16°F to 83°F and is rarely below 1°F or above 91°F. This means you better love that chill-to-the-bone kind of New England cold!
It strikes us as a generous population with indexes for all Charitable Contribution Profiles significantly above the US average.
Housing Inventory and Pricing
The housing market in Walpole is dynamic and offers a range of options for potential homeowners. In 2023 almost 75% of the population own their home. Housing stock is older, with a median year of construction being 1966 and over 38% of the houses built before 1939. Sounds like there has been an investment in insulation in this cold-weather hamlet! As of September 2023, there were 11 homes for sale, and sources suggest a median listing home price of $384,950. We loved that you could find a home within walking distance of the heart of town, albeit with a premium or a larger piece of property and wide open country air. This is known as a fairly affluent part of New Hampshire, and that is saying something!
Cost of Living
When it comes to the cost of living, Walpole offers a pleasant surprise. The town's cost of living index is 92.1, which means the total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities is 7.9 percent lower than the U.S. average and 12.9 percent lower than the average for New Hampshire[3].
A typical home in Walpole costs $364,000, which is 7.7 percent more expensive than the national average of $338,100 and 13.6 percent less expensive than the average New Hampshire home, at $421,300[3]. Renting a two-bedroom unit in Walpole costs $1,340 per month, which is 6.3 percent cheaper than the national average of $1,430 and 13.4 percent cheaper than the state average of $1,520[3].
The Walpole Experience
Beyond the numbers, Walpole offers a quality of life that's hard to quantify. The town's schools are above average, and the community offers a mix of outdoor activities that make it a great place for families and individuals who love nature. The setting on the western edge of the state provides a multitude of daytrip destinations from snow skiing, sledding and winter hiking in the cold months to the lakes and endless trails in the summer. In town, the french Bistro of The Restaurant at Burdick’s for delicious dining and the regular live performances of the Walpole Players remind you that the richness of city life can be found around the corner in a charming hamlet.
Whether you're looking to retire, start a business, raise a family, or simply enjoy a slower pace of life, Walpole, NH offers a wealth of opportunities. With its affordable cost of living, dynamic housing market, and strong sense of community, it's a small town that could just be your perfect fit.
