Compare towns
Bristol vs Salisbury 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Salisbury | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
1,609Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| Salisbury 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% |
20.1%±9.6Lowest 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%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Salisbury 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% |
37.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 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±$10k 21% below NH |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$363,400±$47kHighest 10% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Salisbury and Bristol 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 |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Salisbury 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 |
$5,859Highest 12% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Merrimack Valley School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| 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 |
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.