Compare towns
Bristol vs Lancaster vs Lisbon
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 (+6.2%).
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1942).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
3,216 |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%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 |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
46.4±5.7Highest 7% above NH |
| Lisbon and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Lisbon 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±5Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest 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±$10kHighest 21% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$65,500±$13kLowest 34% below NH |
| Bristol and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63kHighest 36% below NH |
$215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
$198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
| Bristol and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,344±$303Highest 10% below NH |
| Lisbon 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 |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$4,691Highest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.9%±18.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lisbon and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bristol 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 | Newfound Area School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | 6.4Lowest |
| 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.