Compare towns
Plymouth 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
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Bristol |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 6,601Highest |
3,273Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$78,438±$10kHighest 21% below NH |
| Bristol and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kHighest 27% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Plymouth and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
| Bristol and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Highest 6% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Plymouth 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.

