Compare towns
New Hampton vs Ashland vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k 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 | New Hampton | Ashland | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,509Highest |
2,183 |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| New Hampton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
| Center Harbor and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
| Center Harbor and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,096±$155Highest 26% below NH |
— |
| Ashland and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,973Highest 25% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.3%±21.6 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and New Hampton 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% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Hampton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newfound Area 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.