Compare towns
Ashland vs Plymouth vs Rumney 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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Rumney has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Rumney | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
4,969Highest |
1,458Lowest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
44.5±2.3Highest about the NH average |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| Rumney 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% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3 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% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Rumney 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% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$89,500±$32kHighest 10% below NH |
$79,444±$21k 20% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
| Plymouth and Rumney 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 |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$309,800±$37kHighest 23% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
| Rumney and Plymouth 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 |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
| Bristol and Plymouth 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 |
$6,483Highest about the NH average |
$4,716 29% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Rumney and Bristol 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% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
10.4% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Rumney 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Rumney 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 | 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.