Compare towns
Bristol vs Bow vs New Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
New Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
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 | Bristol | Bow | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,098Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,993±$24kLowest 25% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,400±$27kLowest 41% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,279±$120 14% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
| Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,686Lowest 45% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #79 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.