What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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	Wolfeboro
People
Population	3,273Lowest	6,571Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average	57±1.8Highest 32% above NH
Kids under 18	24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%	13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	45%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Highest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Bristol and Wolfeboro 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	$94,375±$22kHighest 5% below NH
	Wolfeboro 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	$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH	$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,162Lowest 38% below NH	$4,531Highest 32% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2%	12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above NH	24 minLowest 11% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Wolfeboro and Bristol 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	#46 of 120 in NH
School district	Newfound Area School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	11.1Lowest
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.