Compare towns
Ashland vs Chatham vs Marlborough
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 expensive homes ($363k median).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
430Lowest |
2,207Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +1.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
48.3±8.6Highest 12% above NH |
46±9.2 6% above NH |
| Chatham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough 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% |
26.5%±10Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chatham 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% |
38.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$69,032±$9kHighest 30% below NH |
| Marlborough 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±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
$267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
— | $1,133±$323Highest 24% below NH |
| Marlborough and Ashland 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 |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$6,362Highest 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough 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% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Marlborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Marlborough 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.