What stands out worked out from the figures below

Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

Ashland has the most people working from home (9.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Croydon	Ashland
People
Population	798Lowest	2,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±9.1Highest about the NH average	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average
	Croydon and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±6.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.4%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Croydon and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±3.3Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Croydon and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,333±$21kHighest about the NH average	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$317,300±$33kHighest 21% below NH	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$991±$336Lowest 34% below NH	$1,096±$155Highest 26% below NH
	Ashland and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,806Lowest 43% below NH	$4,961Highest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Ashland and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Ashland and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Croydon School District	Ashland School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.