Compare towns
Walpole vs Ossipee 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).
Ossipee has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Ossipee | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
4,521Highest |
3,273Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Ossipee 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% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest 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% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee 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% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest 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±$16k 17% below NH |
$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Ossipee and Walpole 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 |
$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Ossipee 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 |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Ossipee 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 |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% NH: 72.8% |
82%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.