What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).

Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Walpole	Bristol
People
Population	3,690Highest	2,098Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+13.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH	38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH
	Walpole and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.5%±8.6Highest 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%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1%	14.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	28%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6%	5%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Bristol 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±$16kHighest 17% below NH	$73,993±$24kLowest 25% 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	$237,400±$27kLowest 41% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH	$1,279±$120Highest 14% 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	$6,078Highest 9% below NH	$3,686Lowest 45% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±21.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bristol 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%	9.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH	1969Highest 10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below NH	29 minHighest 8% above NH
Work from home	7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bristol and Walpole 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	—
High school in town	None in town	—
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.