Compare towns
Bristol vs Bennington 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 (+6.2%).
Bennington has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Bennington | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
1,588Lowest |
2,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Marlborough and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlborough and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
$69,032±$9kLowest 30% 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 | $258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$267,300±$15kHighest 34% below NH |
$267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
| Bennington and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,133±$323Lowest 24% below NH |
| Bristol and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$6,362Highest 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Marlborough 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 | Newfound Area School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.