Compare towns
Walpole vs Hooksett vs Hampstead 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Hooksett | Hampstead | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,690 |
15,057Highest |
9,102 |
3,273Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| Walpole and Hampstead 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.