Compare towns
Bristol vs Durham vs Lancaster
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 (24.3% under 18).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273 |
15,080Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Lancaster and Bristol 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 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+ | 23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Bristol 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Durham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Oyster River Coop School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.