Compare towns
Walpole vs Atkinson 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
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Walpole | Atkinson | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
7,267Highest |
3,273Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Atkinson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
| Bristol and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 9% below NH |
$6,918Highest 4% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Timberlane Regional 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 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.