Compare towns
Ashland vs Bow 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
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 42.7).
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 | Ashland | Bow | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
8,335Highest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
| Bristol and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Bow School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| 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.