Compare towns
Ashland vs Plymouth vs Bristol vs Plymouth
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).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Plymouth has the highest household income ($90k).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Bristol | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
6,601Highest |
3,273 |
4,969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
| 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% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$89,500±$32kHighest 10% below NH |
| Plymouth 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 |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$294,400±$28kHighest 27% below NH |
| Plymouth and Plymouth 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 |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,296±$295 13% 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 |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$6,483Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest 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% |
18.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Plymouth 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 | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Newfound Area School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Newfound Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
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.