Compare towns
Bristol vs Hooksett 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 the most renters (43.2% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Bennington has the most homeowners (74.3%).
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 | Hooksett | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,098 |
5,876Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.2% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
42.6±2Highest about the NH average |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest 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% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Bennington 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% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 |
$101,053±$25kHighest about the NH average |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Hooksett and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,400±$27kLowest 41% below NH |
$348,100±$32kHighest 14% below NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,279±$120Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,686Lowest 45% below NH |
$4,960 26% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Hooksett 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.