Compare towns
Ashland vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k median).
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 | Plainfield | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
2,522 |
3,273Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 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%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Plainfield 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.