Compare towns
Bristol vs Durham vs Bristol
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 most homeowners (69.7%).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($498k median).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273 |
10,681Highest |
2,098Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.5±4.7 11% below NH |
| Bristol 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.5%±8.6Highest 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%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$73,993±$24kLowest 25% below NH |
| Durham 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±$63k 36% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$237,400±$27kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,279±$120Lowest 14% below NH |
| Bristol and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,686Lowest 45% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.8%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | — | — |
| 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.