Compare towns
Bristol vs Lancaster vs Bennington
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%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Bennington has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,098 |
3,216Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Lancaster and Bennington 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%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Bennington 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% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
| Bennington 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 |
$267,300±$15kHighest 34% below NH |
| Bennington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,279±$120 14% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
| Bennington and Bristol 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 |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington 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 | Contoocook Valley 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.