Compare towns
Walpole vs Manchester 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 oldest population (median age 46.5).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Manchester | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
115,643Highest |
3,273Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| 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%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Lowest 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest 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% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Manchester 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 |
$81,007±$2k 18% below NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Walpole and Manchester 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 |
$365,600±$7kHighest 9% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Manchester and Walpole 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 |
$1,564±$37Highest 5% above NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078Highest 9% below NH |
$5,922 11% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Manchester 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% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Manchester 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.