Compare towns
Bristol vs Hill vs Townsend
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Hill has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Hill | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273 |
908Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
49.1±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hill 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% |
10.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Townsend 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% |
28.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hill 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$82,125±$21k about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$311,700±$41k 6% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97Lowest 7% below U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$4,933 58% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol and Townsend 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Hill School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.