Compare towns
Ashland vs Plymouth vs Bridgewater vs Marlborough
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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
Marlborough has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Plymouth | Bridgewater | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
4,969Highest |
1,169Lowest |
2,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
46±9.2 6% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Marlborough 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% |
13.3%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough 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% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$89,500±$32kHighest 10% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$69,032±$9k 30% below NH |
| Plymouth 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 |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,296±$295Highest 13% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,133±$323 24% below NH |
| Plymouth and Marlborough 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 |
$6,483Highest about the NH average |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$6,362 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough 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% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
21 min 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Marlborough and Plymouth 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Newfound Area School District | Marlborough 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 | 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.