What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

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	Orford	Ashland
People
Population	1,295Lowest	2,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average
	Orford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Ashland and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Orford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,900±$25kHighest 32% below NH	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH
	Orford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH
	Orford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,836Highest 12% below NH	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Ashland and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	10.8%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Orford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Rivendell Interstate School District	Ashland School District
High school in town	Rivendell Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5	—
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.