Compare towns
Ashland vs Dover vs New Ipswich
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
33,364Highest |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
| Ashland and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| New Ipswich and Dover 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 |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
| Dover and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,647 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Dover 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and New Ipswich 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 | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Dover School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.