Compare towns
Bristol vs Bristol vs Bridgewater vs New Hampton
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
New Hampton has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Bristol | Bridgewater | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
2,098 |
1,169Lowest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton 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% |
28.5%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol 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% |
14.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
5%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Bristol and New Hampton 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 |
$73,993±$24kLowest 25% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$95,250±$35kHighest 4% below NH |
| New Hampton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$237,400±$27kLowest 41% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton 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 |
$1,279±$120 14% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
| Bristol and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162 38% below NH |
$3,686 45% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,973Highest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol 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% |
9.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7% NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Hampton 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | — | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area 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 | 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.