Compare towns
Bristol vs Hampstead vs Hooksett 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).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hampstead | Hooksett | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,273Lowest |
9,102 |
15,057Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Walpole and Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead 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 |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town | 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 | 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.