Compare towns
Chatham vs Ashland vs Jackson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Jackson has the most people working from home (22.2%).
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 | Chatham | Ashland | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
2,183Highest |
897 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19k 33% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
| Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
| Jackson and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
16.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest 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 | — | Ashland School District | Jackson School District |
| High school 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.