Compare towns
Bridgewater vs New Hampton vs Ashland vs Washington
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).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | New Hampton | Ashland | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,169Lowest |
2,509Highest |
2,183 |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
55±4.7 27% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Washington 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% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and New Hampton 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% |
24.8%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Washington 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% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Washington and New Hampton 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 |
$95,250±$35kHighest 4% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$89,453±$12k 10% below NH |
| New Hampton and Washington 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 |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
| Bridgewater and New Hampton 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 |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,106±$160 26% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Washington 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 |
$4,973Highest 25% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6 NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Washington and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Newfound Area School District | Ashland School District | Washington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.