Compare towns
Plymouth vs Ashland vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Ashland | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601Highest |
2,183 |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$82,361±$9kHighest 17% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,125±$201Highest 25% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Highest 6% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plymouth and Ashland 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Ashland School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.