What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).

Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).

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	Thornton
People
Population	3,273Highest	2,799Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average	51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH
	Thornton and Bristol 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%	13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bristol and Thornton 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%	19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bristol and Thornton 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%	46.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6%	4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Thornton 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	$90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH
	Thornton and Bristol 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	$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH	$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH
	Bristol and Thornton 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	$5,032Highest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Thornton 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%	9.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	88.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above NH	23 minLowest 15% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#79 of 120 in NH	#18 of 120 in NH
School district	Newfound Area School District	Thornton School District
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5	—
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.