Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Gorham 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%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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 | Gorham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
2,682Highest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
53.9±3.6 24% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Gorham 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% |
12.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Gorham 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% |
31.7%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Gorham 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±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
$61,275±$7k 38% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$227,000±$29k 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,096±$155 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 |
$4,334 35% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Gorham and Ashland 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% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Ashland and Bridgewater 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.