Compare towns
Marlborough vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most homeowners (75.1%).
Ashland has the youngest population (median age 42.3).
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 | Lancaster | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,207 |
3,216Highest |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
| Marlborough and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Ashland 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Marlborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,200±$35kHighest 34% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$227,000±$29k 44% below NH |
| Marlborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$323Highest 24% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,096±$155 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 |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Marlborough and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Marlborough School District | White Mountains Regional 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.