Compare towns
Bristol vs Keene vs Marlborough
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).
Marlborough has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Keene | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273 |
22,939Highest |
2,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Marlborough 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 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Marlborough 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Marlborough 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$78,445±$8kHighest 21% below NH |
$69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH |
| Keene 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±$63k 36% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$267,200±$35kHighest 34% below NH |
| Marlborough and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,133±$323Lowest 24% below NH |
| Keene and Bristol 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$6,362 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough 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% |
10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
68.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
21 min 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Marlborough 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Keene School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.