Ashland

Grafton Countyβ€’Lakes Regionβ€’Population: 1,938

Overview

Ashland is a small town in Grafton County near Squam Lake and Little Squam Lake, sitting at a crossroads between the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. The town's compact downtown along the Pemigewasset River reflects its mill-era history.

The Pemigewasset River and nearby lakes provide fishing and paddling, while Ashland's location gives residents easy access to both Plymouth and the broader Lakes Region. A small downtown includes local businesses and civic buildings.

Housing in Ashland remains affordable relative to lakefront towns, drawing families and retirees who want proximity to Squam Lake and the mountains without premium prices.

Pros & Cons

βœ“ Pros

  • β€’Lake proximity
  • β€’Affordable
  • β€’River access
  • β€’Central location

βœ— Cons

  • β€’Limited services
  • β€’Small downtown
  • β€’Few amenities

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Ashland.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$19.19
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$14.05
Equalization ratio: 73%
Municipal
$6.89
Local School
$9.94
State Education
$1.13
County
$1.23

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$19.19$14.05$6.89$9.94$1.13$1.23

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$4,798$400
$350,000$6,717$560
$500,000$9,595$800
$750,000$14,393$1,199
$1,000,000$19,190$1,599

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $19.19 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
77.3Β°F
Winter Avg High
32.5Β°F
Annual Snowfall
58.4 in
Annual Rainfall
46.9 in
Sunny Days/Year
256
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
108 mi
~126 min drive
Manchester
58 mi
~68 min drive
Portsmouth
100 mi
~118 min drive
Concord
41 mi
~48 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
7/10
Crime Rate
11.87/1,000
Crime Trend
stable
Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/) β€’ Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
35/100
Trail Miles
20.5
0
Boat Launches
2
State Parks
2
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:10 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:2

Economy & Demographics

πŸ’°Income

Median Household Income
$53,367
Per Capita Income
$29,655
Median Family Income
$73,977

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$174,200
Median Rent
$1,078/mo
Homeownership Rate
61.08%

πŸ’ΌEmployment

Unemployment Rate
5%
In Labor Force
1,059

πŸŽ“Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.79%
Total with Degree
234

πŸ‘₯Demographics

Median Age
32.3 years
Avg Household Size
2.32 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) β€’ Census Data Year: 2022 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Ashland

one registered condo association β€” offering active low-maintenance living options.

Source: CAI-NE 2024-2025 Annual Resource Directory (data as of April 2024)

Compare Ashland with Other Towns

See how Ashland stacks up against other NH communities.