Compare towns
Ashland vs Durham vs Holderness vs New Hampton
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 kids (21.4% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Ashland | Durham | Holderness | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
10,681Highest |
1,917Lowest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
| New Hampton 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Holderness 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and New Hampton 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Holderness School District | Newfound Area 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 | 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.