Compare towns
New Hampton vs Nelson vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k 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 | New Hampton | Nelson | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,509 |
648Lowest |
3,273Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| New Hampton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Nelson and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,700±$37kHighest 5% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| New Hampton and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
| Bristol and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973 25% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Nelson School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.