Nashua River runs through the historic center of Nashua, NH - Photo by Geraldine Longenberger

Communities of the Nashua River Watershed

The 32 towns and cities of our watershed range from urban areas that were once booming milltowns that are today seeing revitalization around their riverfronts to small villages that have the look and feel of early New England with their Commons and historic districts. Many of these communities are facing rapid growth with the expansion of the Boston metropolitan area. Each one is unique and special, but one fact they all share—they are 32 communities connected by water.

Ashburnham, MA     Population: 6,081Farmstands, like this one in Bolton, abound in the watershed

Ashby, MA     Population: 3,074

Ayer, MA     Population: 7,427

Bolton, MA     Population: 4,897

Boylston, MA     Population: 4,355

Brookline, NH     Population: 4,991

Clinton, MA     Population: 4,355

Devens, MA     Population: included in Ayer and Harvard

Our Watershed- Our Communities- FitchburgDunstable, MA     Population: 3,169

Fitchburg, MA     Population: 40,318

Gardner, MA     Population: 20,228

Groton, MA     Population: 10,646

Greenville, NH     Population: 2,105

Harvard, MA     Population: 6,520

Holden, MA     Population: 17,346

Hollis, NH     Population: 7,684

Classic New England commons dot the watershed - Milford, NHLancaster, MA     Population: 8,055

Leominster, MA     Population: 40,759

Lunenburg, MA     Population: 10,086

Mason, NH     Population: 1,382

Milford, NH     Population: 15,115

Nashua, NH     Population: 86,494

New Ipswich, NH     Population: 5,099

Paxton, MA     Population: 4,086

Covered bridge over the Nashua River in Pepperell, MA - Photo by Jane MetzgerPepperell, MA     Population: 11,497

Princeton, MA     Population: 3,413

Rutland, MA     Population: 7,973

Shirley, MA     Population: 7,211

Sterling, MA     Population: 7,808

Townsend, MA     Population: 8,926

West Boylston, MA     Population: 7,669

Westminster, MA     Population: 7,227

Our watershed is truly a special place to live, work, and play. Explore a satellite view of our watershed.

To learn about the natural resources in our communities.

To learn about recreational opportunities in our communities.

Population data from 2010 U.S. Census.