Compare towns
Ashland vs Barnstead vs Holderness
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Holderness has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Ashland | Barnstead | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
4,994Highest |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
| Barnstead and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| Barnstead and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$363,100±$60kHighest 10% below NH |
| Holderness and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead 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 | — | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Barnstead School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.