Compare towns
Rumney vs Bridgewater vs Ashland vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rumney has the most people working from home (14.4%).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Orford has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Rumney | Bridgewater | Ashland | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,458 |
1,169Lowest |
2,183Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
44%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.3 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Orford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,444±$21k 20% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH |
| Orford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,800±$37k 23% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH |
| Orford and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716 29% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$5,836Highest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Rumney and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rumney and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Rumney School District | Newfound Area School District | Ashland School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.