Compare towns
Ashland vs Holderness vs Lebanon 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).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Holderness | Lebanon | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,917Lowest |
14,999Highest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% 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%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness 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% NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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 |
$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
| Holderness and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$385,400±$29kHighest 4% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
| Lebanon and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Holderness and Lebanon 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$4,162 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Lebanon 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% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Holderness School District | Lebanon School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.