Compare towns
Bristol vs Sidney vs Walpole
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).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Sidney | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Lowest |
4,790Highest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole and Sidney 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% |
23.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Sidney 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% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Walpole 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 about the U.S. average |
$83,488±$10kHighest 3% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Sidney 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±$63kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34kHighest about the U.S. average |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Walpole 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. |
$1,340±$304Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Sidney and Bristol 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. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$6,078Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | RSU 18 | Fall Mountain Regional 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 History | 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.