Compare towns
Ashland vs New Hampton 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).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | New Hampton | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
2,509 |
3,273Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest 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%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and New Hampton 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% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| New Hampton 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 |
$95,250±$35kHighest 4% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
| New Hampton and Bristol 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 |
$383,700±$37kHighest 5% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% 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 | $4,961 26% below NH |
$4,973Highest 25% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest 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% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| New Hampton 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 |
| School district | Ashland School District | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| 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.