Compare towns
Bristol vs New Hampton vs Plainfield
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).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
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 | New Hampton | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
2,509Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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% |
24.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and New Hampton 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 21% below NH |
$95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 36% below NH |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and New Hampton 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 |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and New Hampton 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | 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 |
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.