Compare towns
Ashland vs White River Junction vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
White River Junction has the most people working from home (15.7%).
Bridgewater has the most expensive homes ($399k median).
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 | White River Junction | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
3,364Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
58.3±6.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashland and Bridgewater 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 32% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$82,361±$9kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Bridgewater and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$398,600±$65kHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Bridgewater and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,125±$201 20% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 59% above U.S. |
$5,651Highest 81% above U.S. |
$2,823Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.