Compare towns
Ashland vs Eliot vs Bridgewater
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 most affordable homes ($227k median).
Eliot has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Eliot | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
7,146Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Eliot 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% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashland and Eliot 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 32% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$398,600±$65k 20% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 22% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Ashland 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.