Compare towns
Walpole vs Dunbarton 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).
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k median).
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 | Dunbarton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690Highest |
3,097Lowest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±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%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Bristol 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Walpole and Dunbarton 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 |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
| Bristol and Dunbarton 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 |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Dunbarton 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Dunbarton 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.