Compare towns
Bristol vs Colebrook vs Gorham
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%).
Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Colebrook | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
1,988Lowest |
2,682 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
53.7±4.9 24% above NH |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
| Gorham and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.2%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Colebrook 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% |
20.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Bristol 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 |
$61,275±$7k 38% below NH |
| Bristol and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63kHighest 36% below NH |
$192,200±$59k 52% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% 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 |
$838±$83 44% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$4,350Highest 35% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
50.3%±19.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
13.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Colebrook School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
8.4Lowest |
9.0 |
| 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.