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Bristol, NH


bristol New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Town of Bristol
Christina Goodwin, Town Administrator
5 School Street
Bristol, NH 03222
Telephone (603) 744-3354
Fax (603) 744-2521
E-mail townadmin@townofbristolnh.gov
Web Site www.bristolnh.gov

Municipal Office Hours Select Board, Town Administrator: Monday to Friday, 8-4; Town Clerk/Tax Collector: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8-4, Wednesday, 12-7

County Grafton
Labor Market Area Plymouth, NH LMA
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Lakes Region
Regional Development Grafton County Economic Development Council

Election Districts
US Congress District District 2
Executive Council District District 1
State Senate District District 7
State Representative Grafton County Districts 10, 18

Incorporated: 1819
Origin: Bristol was incorporated in 1819, established on land taken from Bridgewater and New Chester (Hill). Extensive deposits of fine sand or clay similar to the Bristol sand used in Bristol, England, to make fine china and pottery gave this town its name. Here the sand was used to make a superior quality brick, marketed as Bristol brick. The town was center of manufacturing in the early days for such diverse goods as paper, leather, woolens, flannel, bedsteads, and piano stools. Bristol encompasses the lower two-thirds of Newfound Lake, including Wellington State Park.
Villages and Place Names: unknown
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 675 residents in 1820
Population Trends: Population change for Bristol totaled 1,590 over 50 years, from 1,670 in 1970 to 3,260 in 2020. The 2022 Census estimate for Bristol was 3,308 residents, which ranked 108th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 193.7 persons per square mile of land area. Bristol contains 17.1 square miles of land area and 5.0 square miles of inland water area.

Municipal Services
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2022 $8,878,652
Budget: School Appropriations, 2020-2021 $7,016,122
Zoning Ordinance 1985/23
Master Plan 2022
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Selectmen; Budget; Library; Cemetery; Trust Funds; Checklist
Appointed:Please visit www.bristolnh.gov for a list of boards & committees to which citizens may be appointed.
Public Library Minot-Sleeper

Emergency Services
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Emergency Medical Service Municipal
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Speare Memorial, Plymouth 14 miles 25

Utilities
Electric Supplier Eversource Energy; NH Electric Coop
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Bristol Water and Sewer
Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupNone
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramNo
Recycling ProgramNone
Telephone Company Consolidated Communications
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes
2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $20.99
2022 Equalization Ratio 58.8
2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $12.30
2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings86.3%
Commercial Land and Buildings10.5%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other3.2%

(ACS 2017-2021) Housing
Total Housing Units 2,387
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 1,672
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 221
Five or More Units in Structure 167
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 327
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial)
Total Population Community County
2022 3,308 91,126
2020 3,244 91,118
2010 3,054 89,118
2000 3,033 81,826
1990 2,614 74,998
1980 2,198 65,806
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021
Population by Gender
Male:   1,716 Female:   1,532
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 181
Age 5 to 19 543
Age 20 to 34 537
Age 35 to 54 957
Age 55 to 64 444
Age 65 and over 586
Median Age 42.8 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over 2,251
High school graduate or higher 95.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher 25.7%

(ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $
Per capita income $31,642
Median family income $83,883
Median household income $67,985
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $57,319
Female $45,000
Individuals below the poverty level 8.9%

(NHES - ELMI) Labor Force
Annual Average 2012 2022
Civilian Labor Force 1,652 1,744
Employed 1,567 1,704
Unemployed 85 40
Unemployment Rate 5.1% 2.3%

(NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages
Annual Average Covered Employment 2012 2022
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 453 549
Average Weekly Wage $890 $1,152
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 671 796
Average Weekly Wage $483 $731
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 1,123 1,345
Average Weekly Wage $647 $903
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 323 276
Average Weekly Wage $674 $916
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 1,446 1,620
Average Weekly Wage $653 $905

If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.


(NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care
Schools students attend: Grades K-12 are part of Newfound Area (Alexandria, Bridgewater, Bristol, Danbury, Groton, Hebron, New Hampton) SAU 4
Career Technology Center(s): Plymouth Applied Technology Center
Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1 1 1
Grade Levels P K 1-5 6-8 9-12
Total Enrollment 188 287 376
2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 2 Total Capacity: 121
Nearest Community/Technical College: Lakes Region
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Plymouth State; Colby-Sawyer

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
Newfound Area Schools Education 250
Freudenberg-NOK Oil, grease seals, molded rubber 450 1949
Town of Bristol Municipal services 50 1819
Hannaford Brothers Supermarket 30
TD Bank Banking services 25 1970
Homestead Restaurant Restaurant 25 1975
LaValley Building Supply Retail lumber store 21
Dead River Company Oil/gas delivery
Mid-State Health Center Health care services

Employer Information Supplied by Municipality


(Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation
Road Access US Routes
State Routes 3A, 104
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 23
Distance 6 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Newfound Valley, BristolRunway1,900 ft. asphalt
Lighted? No Navigational Aids? No
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 60 miles
Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 55 miles
Portland, ME 98 miles
Boston, MA 105 miles
New York City, NY 301 miles
Montreal, Quebec 229 miles

(ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work
Workers 16 years and over 1,624
Drove alone, car/truck/van 79.5%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 6.4%
Public transportation 0.0%
Walked 6.3%
Other Means 2.0%
Worked at home 5.8%
Mean Travel Time to Work 23.3 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2017-2021)
Working in community of residence 29.1%
Commuting to another NH community 68.4%
Commuting out-of-state 2.5%
Recreation, Attractions, and Events
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
X Museums
Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourist Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
X Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Ragged, Tenney, Waterville Valley Mountains
   
Other: Wellington State Park; Slim Baker Lodge; TTCC; NH Marathon; Lakes Region Tri Festival; Swim with a Mission; Bristol Falls Park; Pemi River Trail

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 7/19/23

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

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