Compare towns
Ashland vs Lee vs Newmarket 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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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 | Lee | Newmarket | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
4,576 |
9,463Highest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 |
— | $1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Newmarket 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newmarket School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.