Compare towns
Ashland vs Winchester 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 renters (35.9% rent).
Winchester has the most homeowners (72.7%).
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 | Winchester | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
4,212Highest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
42.6±4.5 about the NH average |
42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
| Bristol and Winchester 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% |
18.9%±4.7Lowest 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% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Ashland 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 |
$67,723±$11k 32% below NH |
$78,438±$10kHighest 21% below NH |
| Bristol and Winchester 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 |
$242,900±$20k 40% below NH |
$258,300±$63kHighest 36% below NH |
| Bristol and Winchester 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 |
$1,209±$143 19% below NH |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
| Bristol and Winchester 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 |
$5,314Highest 20% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45%±17.7 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Winchester 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% |
14.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72.7%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 minLowest 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
4.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol and Ashland 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 | — | #120 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Winchester 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.