Compare towns
Marlborough vs Chatham 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
Marlborough has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Chatham has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
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 | Marlborough | Chatham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,207Highest |
430Lowest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.2 6% above NH |
48.3±8.6Highest 12% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Chatham and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±10Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Chatham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.4% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 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 | $69,032±$9kHighest 30% below NH |
$66,042±$19k 33% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Marlborough and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
$362,900±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$323Highest 24% below NH |
— | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Marlborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362Highest 5% below NH |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Marlborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Marlborough 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 | 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.