Compare towns
Ashland vs Guildhall 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).
Guildhall has the highest household income ($115k).
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 | Guildhall | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Highest |
371Lowest |
1,169 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +7.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.6±7.8 10% above U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±7.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Guildhall and Ashland 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% |
26.1%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bridgewater and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashland and Bridgewater 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. |
$115,000±$46kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$82,361±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Guildhall 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 32% below U.S. |
$321,200±$62k 3% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Guildhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 22% below U.S. |
$850±$717Lowest 40% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201Highest 20% below U.S. |
| Bridgewater and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,625 48% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
75%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Guildhall 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% |
11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashland and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.