Compare towns
Ashland vs Chatham vs Bridgewater
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).
Chatham has the most homeowners (82.8%).
Bridgewater has the highest household income ($82k).
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 | Chatham | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Highest |
430Lowest |
1,169 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Chatham 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% |
21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Chatham 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% |
38.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chatham 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 |
$66,042±$19k 33% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Chatham 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 |
$362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Chatham 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±$201Highest 25% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Highest 26% below NH |
$3,690 45% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Chatham 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% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3 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 |
| High school 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.