Compare towns
Ashland vs Durham vs Bridgewater 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).
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Marlborough has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Bridgewater | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
15,080Highest |
1,169Lowest |
2,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
46±9.2 6% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$69,032±$9k 30% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,133±$323 24% below NH |
| Durham and Marlborough 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$6,362 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Marlborough 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% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
21 min 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Marlborough 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfound Area School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.