Compare towns
Bristol vs Randolph 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).
Randolph has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Randolph | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
2,007Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
50.5±7.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Randolph 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 U.S.: 22% |
11%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Randolph 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% |
42.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Randolph 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±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$75,069±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Randolph 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. |
$235,400±$25k 29% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Randolph 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. |
$1,095±$198 23% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Randolph 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. |
$4,507Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±20.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Randolph 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Randolph 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 | #55 of 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.