Compare towns
Walpole vs Bath 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 most expensive homes ($320k median).
Bath has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Bath | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
1,097Lowest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
48.6±8.6Highest 12% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Bath 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% |
21.3%±5.8Lowest 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% |
26.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bath 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% NH: 40.6% |
26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Walpole and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
| Walpole and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
| Walpole and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Bath and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078Highest 9% below NH |
$4,413 34% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Bristol 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% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Bath 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bath 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.