Compare towns
Bristol vs Westminster vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k 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 | Westminster | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
2,999 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westminster 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 about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$82,361±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Bridgewater 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 22% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Bridgewater 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. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #79 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.