Compare towns
Bristol vs New Hampton 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 the most affordable homes ($258k median).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | New Hampton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273 |
2,509Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
51.7±2.7Highest 33% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 about the U.S. average |
$95,250±$35k 18% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$383,700±$37k 15% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 7% below U.S. |
$749±$433Lowest 47% 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. |
$4,973 59% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±3.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| New Hampton and Bristol 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 | Newfound Area 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.