Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (11.5%).
Ashland has the most renters (35.9% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
3,216Highest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Lancaster 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$227,000±$29k 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% 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 |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Lancaster 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% |
16.7% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | White Mountains Regional 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.