Compare towns
Chatham vs Ashland vs Sharon
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).
Sharon has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
2,183Highest |
442 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.6% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±11.2Highest 14% above NH |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±8.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sharon and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sharon 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% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Ashland 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 |
$113,125±$19kHighest 14% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$475,900±$38kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,458±$1kHighest about the NH average |
| Sharon 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 |
$8,274Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
28.6%±100Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sharon 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 | — |
| High school 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.