Compare towns
Ashland vs Bridgewater vs Newington
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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Highest |
1,169 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Newington 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% |
28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Newington 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% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Newington 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 |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$6,081Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Ashland and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | Newfound Area School District | Newington 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.