Compare towns
Bristol vs Bridgewater vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.2%).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
Ashland has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Bristol | Bridgewater | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,098 |
1,169Lowest |
2,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 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+ | 14.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 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 | $73,993±$24k 25% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,400±$27k 41% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,279±$120Highest 14% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Bristol and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,686 45% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 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 | 9.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Newfound Area School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.