Compare towns
Bristol vs Lancaster vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
3,216 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Bristol 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 about the U.S. average |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63k 22% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97 7% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | 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 |
U.S. 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.