Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Freedom 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 highest household income ($82k).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Freedom | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
1,494 |
2,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Freedom 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% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Freedom 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% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest 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±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$66,136±$14k 33% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Freedom 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 |
$389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Freedom 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 |
$3,478 48% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom 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% |
15% 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 |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Freedom 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 | Freedom School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | None 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.