Compare towns
Bristol vs Walpole vs Winchester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($243k 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.
| Measure | Bristol | Walpole | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Lowest |
3,690 |
4,212Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
42.6±4.5Lowest about the NH average |
| Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.7Lowest 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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±$10k 21% below NH |
$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
$67,723±$11kLowest 32% below NH |
| Walpole 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±$63k 36% below NH |
$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
$242,900±$20kLowest 40% below NH |
| Walpole 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 12% below NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,209±$143 19% below NH |
| Bristol and Winchester 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 |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
$5,314 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
45%±17.7Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
14.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
72.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
4.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Walpole 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 | #120 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Winchester 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.