Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Stoddard 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 most expensive homes ($399k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
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 | Stoddard | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,169 |
1,072Lowest |
2,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.1% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
53±4 22% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Bridgewater and Stoddard 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% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Stoddard 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% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Stoddard 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 |
$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Stoddard 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±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$330,300±$20k 18% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Stoddard 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 |
$895±$751Lowest 40% 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 |
$4,316 35% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Ashland and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Stoddard 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.