Compare towns
Ashland vs Dover vs Keene 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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
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 | Dover | Keene | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
33,364Highest |
22,939 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Ashland 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% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Dover 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Dover and Bridgewater 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 |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
| Dover and Bridgewater 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 |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Keene 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% |
8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Keene 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Dover School District | Keene School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.