Compare towns
Bristol vs Sutton vs Unity vs Walpole
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 kids (24.3% under 18).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Sutton | Unity | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,273 |
2,239 |
1,375Lowest |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Walpole 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% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Walpole 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% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Walpole 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Sutton and Unity 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 |
$362,600±$16kHighest 10% below NH |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Sutton 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 12% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,625±$804 9% above NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Sutton and Unity 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 |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$5,394 19% below NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sutton 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 | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Unity School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.