Compare towns
Ashland vs Plymouth vs New Hampton 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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Plymouth | New Hampton | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
6,601Highest |
2,509 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton 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% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and New Hampton 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$95,250±$35kHighest 4% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
| New Hampton 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 |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Plymouth 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 |
$6,288Highest 6% below NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Plymouth 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% |
18.6% NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Hampton 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 | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.