Compare towns
Marlborough vs Dublin 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Dublin has the most people working from home (22%).
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 | Dublin | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,207Highest |
1,688Lowest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.1% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.2 6% above NH |
49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Dublin 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%±3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Dublin 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% |
25%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
45.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±3.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Dublin 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±$9k 30% below NH |
$104,659±$14kHighest 6% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
$430,500±$72kHighest 7% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$323 24% below NH |
$1,325±$165Highest 11% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Dublin and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362 5% below NH |
$8,165Highest 22% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest 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% |
9.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
22%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dublin and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Marlborough School District | Contoocook Valley 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.