What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).

Lempster has the most homeowners (98.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Lempster
People
Population	2,098Highest	953Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH	50.8±7.2Highest 17% above NH
Kids under 18	28.5%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2%	12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	14.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.4%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28%Lowest NH: 40.6%	28.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Lowest NH: 6%	6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Lempster 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	$86,607±$12kHighest 13% below NH
	Lempster 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±$27kLowest 41% below NH	$241,900±$29kHighest 40% below NH
	Lempster 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	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,686Lowest 45% below NH	$4,558Highest 32% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.8%±14.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lempster and Bristol 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%	7.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	98.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above NH	37 minHighest 40% above NH
Work from home	10.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8%	5%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bristol and Lempster 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	—
School district	—	Lempster School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.