Compare towns
Ashland vs Durham vs Bristol vs Plymouth
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).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($504k median).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Plymouth has the most renters (43.7% rent).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Bristol | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
15,080Highest |
3,273 |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Bristol and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Bristol 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% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$258,300±$63k 36% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
| Durham and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bristol 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% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Bristol 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfound Area School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Newfound Regional High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.