What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bristol	Winchester
People
Population	3,273Lowest	4,212Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average	42.6±4.5Lowest about the NH average
	Bristol and Winchester 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%	18.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bristol and Winchester 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%	17.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bristol and Winchester 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%	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Highest NH: 6%	2.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Bristol and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$10kHighest 21% below NH	$67,723±$11kLowest 32% below NH
	Bristol and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kHighest 36% below NH	$242,900±$20kLowest 40% below NH
	Bristol and Winchester 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	$1,209±$143Lowest 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	$5,314Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2%	45%±17.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Bristol and Winchester 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%	14.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	72.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 2 yrs older than NH	1977 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above NH	29 minHighest 7% above NH
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8%	4.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bristol and Winchester 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	#120 of 120 in NH
School district	Newfound Area School District	Winchester 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.