Compare towns
Bristol vs Troy vs Marlborough
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%).
Troy has the highest household income ($89k).
Marlborough has the shortest commute (21 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 | Bristol | Troy | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,098 |
2,005Lowest |
2,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
40.2±5 7% below NH |
46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Marlborough and Troy 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% |
21.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Troy 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 |
$88,871±$14kHighest 10% below NH |
$69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH |
| Troy 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 |
$266,600±$39k 34% below NH |
$267,200±$35kHighest 34% below NH |
| Marlborough and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,279±$120Highest 14% below NH |
$1,024±$331Lowest 31% below NH |
$1,133±$323 24% below NH |
| Bristol and Marlborough 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 |
$5,229 22% below NH |
$6,362Highest 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.1%±27.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Marlborough 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Marlborough 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Monadnock Regional School District | Marlborough 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.