What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashland	Rochester
People
Population	2,183Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average	43±1.8Highest about the NH average
	Rochester 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%	18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%	19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Ashland and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
	Rochester 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	$80,836±$3kHighest 18% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH	$279,100±$10kHighest 31% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH	$1,369±$72Highest 8% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH	$5,334Highest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Rochester 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%	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	66%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 1 yr older than NH	1978 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	26 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.8%±2.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Rochester 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	—	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	Ashland School District	Rochester School District
High school in town	None in town	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.