Compare towns
Bennington 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
Bennington has the most people working from home (14.7%).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).
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 | Bennington | Bristol | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,098 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Walpole and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
28.5%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
$73,993±$24kLowest 25% below NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Bennington and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$237,400±$27kLowest 41% below NH |
$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
| Walpole and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$1,279±$120 14% below NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Bennington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 11% below NH |
$3,686Lowest 45% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.