Compare towns
Franklin vs Bristol vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most renters (35.8% rent).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Northfield 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 | Franklin | Bristol | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799Highest |
3,273Lowest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±2Highest about the NH average |
42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Northfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$92,917±$15kHighest 6% below NH |
| Northfield and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$288,500±$33kHighest 28% below NH |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68 26% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886 27% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$5,097Highest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 18% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Franklin 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Newfound Area School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Newfound Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| 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.