Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Center Harbor vs Ashland
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%).
Center Harbor has the highest household income ($104k).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Center Harbor | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
955Lowest |
2,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Center Harbor and Bridgewater 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% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Center Harbor 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±$65k about the NH average |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
— | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Ashland 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 |
$4,667 30% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Bridgewater 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Ashland and Center Harbor 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 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.