Compare towns
Chatham vs Bristol vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Bristol has the most people working from home (11.8%).
Shelburne has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Chatham | Bristol | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
3,273Highest |
530 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.2% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
50.3±11Highest 16% above NH |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Shelburne and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±4.5 NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$93,125±$18kHighest 6% below NH |
| Shelburne and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$280,200±$45k 30% below NH |
| Chatham and Shelburne 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 |
$1,130±$62Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$4,162Highest 38% below NH |
$3,801 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
10%±70.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Shelburne 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 | — |
| School district | — | Newfound Area School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Newfound Regional High School | — |
| 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.