Compare towns
Bristol vs Gorham vs Bennington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Bennington has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Gorham | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,098 |
2,682Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2 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+ | 14.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Gorham 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±$24k 25% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
| Bennington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,400±$27k 41% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$267,300±$15kHighest 34% below NH |
| Bennington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,279±$120 14% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% 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 | $3,686Lowest 45% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.