Compare towns
Bristol vs Mapleton vs Walpole vs Bridgewater
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 kids (24.3% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
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 | Mapleton | Walpole | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,273 |
1,884 |
3,690Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4 20% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Walpole 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63k 22% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150 18% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162 33% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
$2,823 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol and Mapleton 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Newfound Area 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 History | None yet | 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.