Compare towns
Bristol vs Mapleton vs Pittston vs Lancaster
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 the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 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 | Mapleton | Pittston | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,093 |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston and Mapleton 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 |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$86,614±$18k 7% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63kHighest 22% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$238,700±$66k 28% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,080±$593 24% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263 28% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162 33% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,909 39% below U.S. |
$4,226Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittston and Bristol 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #123 of 133 in ME | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 11/MSAD 11 | White Mountains Regional 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 History | None yet | 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.