Compare towns
Bristol vs Townsend 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k median).
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 | Townsend | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273 |
9,100Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest 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% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63k 22% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97 7% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | North Middlesex | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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| 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.