What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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	Weare
People
Population	3,273Lowest	9,170Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average	45.6±4Highest 5% above NH
	Weare 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%	22.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bristol and Weare 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%	13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	41.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
	Weare 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	$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH	$396,300±$26kHighest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Lowest 12% below NH	$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH
	Weare and Bristol 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	$6,272Highest 6% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Weare 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%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above NH	36 minHighest 34% above NH
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#79 of 120 in NH	#84 of 120 in NH
School district	Newfound Area School District	John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	John Stark Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.4Lowest
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.