Compare towns
Ashland vs Bridgewater vs Hampton Beach vs 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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most homeowners (79.7%).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hampton has the highest household income ($97k).
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 | Hampton Beach | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,169Lowest |
2,605 |
10,101Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater 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%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Hampton 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%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampton 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±$9k 17% below NH |
$82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$97,163±$4kHighest about the NH average |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach 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 |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$6,872Highest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton 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 | — | — | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Newfound Area School District | — | — |
| High school 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.