What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).

Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Pelham
People
Population	3,273Lowest	14,449Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average	41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH
	Bristol and Pelham 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%	22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bristol and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1%	16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bristol and Pelham 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%	40%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6%
	Pelham and Bristol 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	$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH	$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Lowest 12% below NH	$1,425±$88Highest 4% below NH
	Pelham 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	$8,634Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2%
	Pelham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	86.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above NH	30 minHighest 10% above NH
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#79 of 120 in NH	#48 of 120 in NH
School district	Newfound Area School District	Pelham School District
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.