Compare towns
Ashland vs Bristol vs Lancaster
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 renters (35.9% rent).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
3,273Highest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Lancaster and Bristol 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% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest 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%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Lancaster 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 |
$78,438±$10kHighest 21% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
| Bristol and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29k 44% below NH |
$258,300±$63kHighest 36% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Bristol and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Bristol and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Highest 26% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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% |
10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Newfound Area School District | White Mountains Regional 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.