Compare towns
Ashland vs Hampton Falls vs Bridgewater vs Bennington
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).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Bennington has the most kids (26% 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 | Hampton Falls | Bridgewater | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
2,328Highest |
1,169Lowest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Hampton 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington 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% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls and Bennington 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 45% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Bennington 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 |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Bennington 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Ashland School District | Hampton Falls School District | Newfound Area School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.