Compare towns
Bristol vs Bridgewater vs Lancaster vs Marlborough
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 youngest population (median age 42.7).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Marlborough has the shortest commute (21 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 | Lancaster | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
1,169Lowest |
3,216 |
2,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
46±9.2 6% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7 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 | $78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$69,032±$9k 30% 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 | $258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,133±$323 24% below NH |
| Bristol and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162 38% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$6,362Highest 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Marlborough 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.