What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

Colebrook has the oldest population (median age 53.7).

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	Colebrook
People
Population	3,273Highest	1,988Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average	53.7±4.9Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%	13.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Colebrook 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Bristol and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$10kHighest 21% below NH	$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kHighest 36% below NH	$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH
	Bristol and Colebrook 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	$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,162Lowest 38% below NH	$4,350Highest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	50.3%±19.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Colebrook and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	13.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above NH	21 minLowest 21% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8%	5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bristol and Colebrook 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	Colebrook School District
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	8.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.