What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rollinsford has the youngest population (median age 38.8).

Bristol has the oldest population (median age 61).

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	Rollinsford	Bristol
People
Population	2,626Lowest	2,917Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average	61±3.2Highest 57% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rollinsford and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	42.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Rollinsford and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,500±$26kLowest 11% above U.S.	$100,750±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Bristol and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,100±$33kLowest 20% above U.S.	$406,400±$54kHighest 22% above U.S.
	Bristol and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,809±$394Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,851Highest 120% above U.S.	$2,668Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±26.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rollinsford and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	25%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rollinsford 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	#94 of 120 in NH	#16 of 133 in ME
School district	Rollinsford School District	Bristol Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.