Compare towns
Ashland vs Canterbury 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 affordable homes ($227k median).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Canterbury | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
2,353 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Canterbury 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% |
22.9%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Hampton 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 |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Canterbury and Hampton 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 |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,421Highest 11% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
5.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Canterbury 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 | Shaker Regional School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
| 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.