Compare towns
Ashland vs Exeter vs Newfields 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Newfields | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
16,151Highest |
2,023 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Newfields 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | — | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Holderness 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.