Compare towns
Bristol vs Lancaster vs Alexandria
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 the most kids (28.5% under 18).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Alexandria has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Lancaster | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,098 |
3,216Highest |
1,983Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
52.6±5Highest 21% above NH |
| Alexandria and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
25.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$89,194±$8kHighest 10% below NH |
| Alexandria 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$323,300±$27kHighest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,279±$120Highest 14% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,135±$273 24% below NH |
| Bristol and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,686Lowest 45% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$5,021Highest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±40.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alexandria and Bristol 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±5.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Alexandria and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school 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.