Compare towns
Ashland vs Durham vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the oldest population (median age 42.3).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
15,080Highest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29k 32% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 22% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.