Town Hall · Bristol

Bristol, NH town hall & government

Bristol spent $15 million in the year to December 31, 2024, about $4,530 per resident.

Where the money goes, where it comes from, property taxes, and how to reach Bristol's government.

Town budget

Where Bristol's money goes

Spent
$15 million
fiscal year to December 31, 2024
Per resident
$4,530
typical New Hampshire towns: $1,589
Long-term debt
$6.3 million
$1,913 per resident
Paid to other governments
$7.4 million49%
Administration & buildings
$1.2 million8%
Fire
$1.2 million8%
Police
$1.2 million8%
Roads & transportation
$1.1 million7%
Sewer & trash
$885,0006%
Water & other utilities
$781,0005%
Parks & libraries
$384,0003%
Interest on debt
$182,0001%
Courts, inspections & corrections
$112,0001%
Health & welfare
$34,000<1%
Other
$580,0004%

Where the money comes from

  • Property taxes 80%
  • Fees & charges 7%
  • Interest, fines & other 6%
  • Utility sales 5%
  • From the state 3%
Town workforce

Who works for Bristol

Full-time staff
40
33 part-time too
Average full-time pay
$57,200
a year, before benefits
Sworn police officers
9
and 10 full-time firefighters
Fire
10 full-time16 part
Police
10 full-time2 part
Administration & buildings
6 full-time2 part
Roads & transportation
6 full-time1 part
Sewer & trash
2 full-time5 part
Parks & libraries
2 full-time4 part
Water & other utilities
2 full-time
Other
2 full-time3 part

Staff on the town's payroll in March 2022. Pay is March payroll times twelve, so it's approximate.

Schools · school year 2022–23

Newfound Area School District

Bristol's K–12 school district, shared with Alexandria, Bridgewater, Danbury, Groton, Hebron and New Hampton. It is its own government, with a budget separate from the town's.

Spending per pupil
$21,003
New Hampshire: $21,866
Students
1,171
in the whole district
Long-term debt
$610,000
at year end

Where the district's money comes from New Hampshire districts overall: 64% local, 27% state, 8% federal

  • Local 61%
  • State 30%
  • Federal 9%

Of the $21,003 per pupil, $11,734 goes to classroom instruction (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to support services such as buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren't in the per-pupil figure.

Property tax

What homeowners in Bristol pay

Typical tax bill
$4,162
a year · New Hampshire typical $6,667
Effective rate
1.61%
of home value · New Hampshire 1.66%
Typical home value
$258,300
owner-occupied

The median yearly bill homeowners report, covering every local property tax on the home (town, schools, county). The effective rate is that bill divided by the median home value, so it's a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Local

Contact Bristol's government

🏛️ Official websitetownofbristolnh.org ↗

Town hall & decisions in Bristol →

Beyond town hall

Who represents Bristol

Bristol is represented in Congress by Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Margaret Wood Hassan and Representative Maggie Goodlander. Kelly Ayotte is governor.

All of Bristol's representatives, with contacts →

Budget: U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Finance (every city and town government's revenue, spending and debt, grouped into plain categories). Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 5-year estimates.

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New Hampshire · NH · Grafton County
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