Compare towns
Ashland vs Exeter vs Holderness vs Plainfield
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Exeter | Holderness | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
16,151Highest |
1,917Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Ashland 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Holderness and Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Plainfield 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Holderness School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.