The Town FilesBristol, New Hampshire
Town in Grafton County · population 3,244 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $258,300
- Household income
- $78,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 71 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 42.7
Bristol is a town of 3,244 people in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $258,300, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for cycling than 80% of New Hampshire towns.
How Bristol ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bristol is worth $258,300, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.3 times the median household income of $78,438, which is more affordable than 76% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,310 a month. 69.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bristol | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $258,300 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,310 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $78,438 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.7% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 42.9% | — |
Who lives in Bristol
| People | Bristol | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.2% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.5% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.3% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 7.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 92.5% |
Weather in Bristol
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 45.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 70.8 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. The strongest, an F1, struck on July 23, 1995 about 4.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 17, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 3, 1968.
Severe weather in Grafton County since 1996
Grafton County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4812: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 27, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4761: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grafton County
Grafton County had 54,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,105 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Bristol itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in Bristol
3 public schools with 868 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newfound Regional High School | 9-13 | 383 | 12.0 |
| Newfound Memorial Middle School | 6-8 | 282 | 10.8 |
| Bristol Elementary School | K-5 | 203 | 13.5 |
Towns near Bristol
- Bristol, NH1.9 mi · 1,911 people · home $237,400
- Bridgewater, NH2.2 mi · 1,160 people · home $398,600
- New Hampton, NH3.9 mi · 2,377 people · home $383,700
- Ashland, NH6.2 mi · 1,082 people · home $173,900
- Hebron, NH6.3 mi · 632 people · home $589,500
- Hill, NH7.3 mi · 1,017 people · home $311,700
- Alexandria, NH7.3 mi · 1,776 people · home $323,300
- Ashland, NH7.8 mi · 1,938 people · home $227,000
Bristol questions
Is Bristol, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bristol scores better for retirees than 15% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 12%. 23.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Bristol?
The median owner-occupied home in Bristol is valued at $258,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $78,438, so homes cost about 3.3 times income. Median rent is $1,310 a month.
What is the weather like in Bristol?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 70.8 inches of snow.
Does Bristol get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bristol since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on July 23, 1995. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)