What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Union has the most homeowners (85.9%).

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	Union
People
Population	2,098Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.5±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average	41.6±5.3Highest 7% above U.S.
	Union and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28.5%±8.6Highest U.S.: 22%	24.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bristol and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Union and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bristol and Union 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 8% below U.S.	$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average
	Union 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 29% below U.S.	$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Union and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$120Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,179±$452Lowest 17% below U.S.
	Bristol and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,686Highest 18% above U.S.	$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.8%±14.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bristol and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	10.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Union 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	—	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.