What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most people working from home (9.9%).

Allenstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashland	Allenstown
People
Population	2,183Lowest	4,743Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average	39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below NH
	Ashland and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%	19.9%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%	16.4%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Ashland and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH	$72,500±$21kHighest 27% below NH
	Allenstown and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH	$243,600±$69kHighest 39% below NH
	Allenstown and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH	$1,281±$397Highest 14% below NH
	Allenstown and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,961Highest 26% below NH	$4,098Lowest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	57.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Allenstown and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	80.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest 4% below NH	24 minLowest 10% below NH
Work from home	9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8%	7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Ashland and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Ashland School District	Allenstown School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	8 photos →

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.