What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

Standish has the highest household income ($105k).

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	Standish
People
Population	3,273Lowest	10,662Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±5.7Highest 10% above U.S.	40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Bristol and Standish 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%	16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bristol and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$10kLowest about the U.S. average	$104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S.	$336,000±$18kHighest about the U.S. average
	Standish and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S.	$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S.
	Bristol and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,162Highest 33% above U.S.	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Standish 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 U.S.: 12.5%	7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Standish 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	#18 of 133 in ME
School district	Newfound Area School District	RSU 06/MSAD 06
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Bonny Eagle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.