Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Ashland vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Orford has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Bridgewater | Ashland | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
2,183Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
44%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Orford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH |
| Orford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH |
| Orford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$5,836Highest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Orford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Ashland School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.