Compare towns
Bristol vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Sutton | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,098Lowest |
2,239Highest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.5±4.7Lowest 11% below NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest 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% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Sutton 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $237,400±$27k 41% below NH |
$362,600±$16kHighest 10% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,279±$120 14% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Sutton 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 |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sutton and Bristol 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 | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | — | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.