Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Jackson 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
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Jackson | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
897Lowest |
2,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Jackson and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Jackson 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% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Jackson 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 |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.9% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 | Jackson 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.