Compare towns
Ashland vs Plainfield 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 affordable homes ($227k median).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
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 | Plainfield | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
2,522Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% 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%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Ashland 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
| Plainfield 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 |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Bridgewater 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Plainfield School District | 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 |
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.