Compare towns
Bristol vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs New Hampton
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 renters (30.3% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Worcester has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Worcester | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
1,943 |
831Lowest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
51.7±2.7Highest 33% above U.S. |
| New Hampton and Worcester 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Hampton 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$10k about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$95,250±$35k 18% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and New Hampton 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
$383,700±$37kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| New Hampton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97 7% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
$749±$433Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.3%±21.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Worcester 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.