Compare towns
Bristol vs Gorham vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
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 | Gorham | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Lowest |
18,300Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97 7% below U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Gorham Public Schools | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.