Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Durham 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 the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Durham has the most people working from home (15.6%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Bridgewater | Durham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
10,681Highest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Durham and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| 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.