Compare towns
Ashland vs Bridgewater vs Lebanon vs Rumney
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).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Rumney has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Lebanon | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,169Lowest |
14,999Highest |
1,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Rumney 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% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Rumney 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 |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$79,444±$21k 20% below NH |
| Lebanon and Bridgewater 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±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$309,800±$37k 23% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Lebanon 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 |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$4,716 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rumney and Lebanon 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% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Rumney 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 | — | — | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Newfound Area School District | Lebanon School District | Rumney School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.