Compare towns
Ashland vs Lebanon vs Plymouth vs Bridgewater
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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Lebanon | Plymouth | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
14,999Highest |
6,601 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Lebanon 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% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Lebanon 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 44% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Lebanon 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 |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lebanon 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 NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6% NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Lebanon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.