Compare towns
Bristol vs Brookline vs Townsend vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 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 | Brookline | Townsend | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,273Lowest |
5,736 |
9,100Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97 7% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #79 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Brookline School District | North Middlesex | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.