Compare towns
Ashland vs Bridgewater vs Gorham
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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k 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 | Ashland | Bridgewater | Gorham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,169Lowest |
2,682Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Gorham 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% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Gorham and Ashland 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 |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$61,275±$7k 38% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29k 44% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
| Bridgewater 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 |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gorham 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Ashland and Bridgewater 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 | — | — | #57 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Newfound Area School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gorham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.