Walpole is a classic New England small town
Established in the early 18th century on the eastern side of the Connecticut River, the town of Walpole is known for its historic character and small-town setting. “Walpole is the quintessential New England town you think of when you picture one in your head. It’s a very ‘Gilmore Girls’ type of place,” says Kathryn Beam , a longtime Walpole resident and local Realtor with Galloway Real Estate. “We have a very cute downtown area situated a little way off Route 12, the main highway. It’s nice to have that separation. There are a lot of places around here where Route 12 runs straight through the town center.” The north-south Route 12 runs parallel to the Connecticut River and remains easily accessible for commuters. Residents can take the route to larger cities like Keene and Dartmouth, which Beam says are notable employment hubs for the region: “Dartmouth is about a 45-minute drive from town, and a lot of the Walpole residents who commute there are employed by either Dartmouth College or the Dartmouth Health system,” she says. Downtown Keene is 17 miles southeast of Walpole and has a growing industrial scene of various manufacturers and distributors.
Housing options include historic properties and farmhouses
Walpole features a range of housing options, nearly all of which are single-family properties. Downton Walpole and the North Walpole community have the town’s highest concentration of homes, while Walpole’s rural areas offer a range of more secluded properties. The town has an array of housing styles. “You’ll find all kinds of homes here, including New England homes, historic properties from the 1800s and farmhouses with lots of open land,” Beam says. Colonials, traditional architecture and ranch styles are also common. Investment properties in Walpole can cost as low as $120,000, but most turnkey homes sell for between $230,000 and $630,000. The town has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4.
Fall Mountain Regional School District serves students
Walpole is zoned for the Fall Mountain Regional School District, which receives an overall B-minus rating from Niche. Students in prekindergarten through first grade can begin at the B-rated Walpole Primary School. Grades two through four can attend North Walpole School, while Walpole Elementary School serves fifth through eighth-grade students; both are rated B-plus. Fall Mountain Regional High School receives a C-plus rating and has a Career & Technology Education Center that offers a range of dual-enrollment and certification programs.
Trails, skiing and river access offer year-round recreation
Outdoor recreation and natural attractions are abundant in Walpole. “We’re surrounded by mountains in this corner of New Hampshire,” Beam says. “In the winter, we’ve got skiing within 40 minutes, and we have a large snowmobile trail system here, which is kept groomed and maintained. In the warmer seasons, those trails become great for hiking and biking.” Locals also go fishing and take boats out on the Connecticut River, which doubles as the Vermont-New Hampshire state line. Hubbard Park offers athletic facilities and fields for team sports. Hooper Golf Course is a public 9-hole course known for its scenic fairways. Walpole Town Pool is located at Frank H. Whitcomb Park and has adjacent basketball and tennis courts.
Shopping and dining options in downtown and along Route 12
Downtown Walpole is a small, walkable area where residents can find mom-and-pop shops and local businesses. “We’ve got some really cute shops and restaurants downtown, and people can get groceries from the local butcher and Walpole Grocery,” Beam says. Walpole has a handful of chain retailers and dining options outside the downtown area. “There’s a Shaw’s Market and a Dunkin’, as well as gas stations, takeout pizza places and two hardware stores, all set up along Route 12,” Beam says. The nearest big-box stores and national retailers are in Keene at shopping centers like Monadnock Marketplace.
Route 12 connects to Interstate 91 and Keene
New Hampshire Route 12 is Walpole’s main highway and runs north-south through town. Commuters can take Route 12 to Keene or access Interstate 91 across the Connecticut River. Public transit options are limited, and residents predominantly rely on cars for daily travel. Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is the closest commercial airport, and it takes about an hour and a half to drive there without traffic. The nearest hospital, Cheshire Medical Center, is located in Keene and has a 24-hour emergency department.
