Compare towns
Ashland vs Bristol vs Hooksett
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).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Bristol | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
3,273 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| 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%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Ashland 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% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Hooksett 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% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Newfound Area School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.