Compare towns
Ashland vs Hampton Falls 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).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Holderness | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
2,328 |
1,917Lowest |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6 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% |
25%±3.6 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Hampton Falls 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 |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Holderness and Hampton Falls 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Plainfield 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Hampton Falls School District | Holderness School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None 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.