Compare towns
Ashland vs Bennington vs Bridgewater vs New Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Bennington has the most people working from home (14.7%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Ashland | Bennington | Bridgewater | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,588 |
1,169Lowest |
2,509Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| New Hampton and Bennington 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 |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$95,250±$35kHighest 4% below NH |
| New Hampton and Bennington 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 |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
| Bennington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Bennington 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Ashland School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.