Compare towns
Walpole vs Plaistow 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).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Plaistow | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,690 |
7,861Highest |
3,273Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% 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% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,078 9% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| 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.