Compare towns
Ashland vs Bridgewater vs Mont Vernon
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).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
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 | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,169Lowest |
2,636Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
$1,104±$185 26% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Mont Vernon 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 |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$9,432Highest 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Newfound Area School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.