What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).

Goffstown has the most expensive homes ($377k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Goffstown
People
Population	3,273Lowest	18,513Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average	41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH
	Bristol and Goffstown 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%	16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bristol and Goffstown 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%	19%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bristol and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	42.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6%	14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH	$113,958±$12kHighest 15% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH	$377,400±$20kHighest 6% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH	$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH
	Bristol and Goffstown 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	$6,941Highest 4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2%
	Goffstown and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	6.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 min 4% above NH	28 min 4% above NH
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.8%±2.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Goffstown 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	#35 of 120 in NH
School district	Newfound Area School District	Goffstown School District
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.6Highest
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.