Compare towns
Bristol vs Effingham vs Walpole
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 affordable homes ($258k median).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Effingham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273 |
1,912Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
46.9±12.4Highest 8% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Effingham and Walpole 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% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Walpole 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% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Walpole 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±$10k 21% below NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
| Walpole 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±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$322,700±$30kHighest 20% below NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Effingham and Walpole 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 |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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 |
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.