Compare towns
Ashland vs Hartford vs Newmarket vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Newmarket has the most expensive homes ($455k median).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Hartford | Newmarket | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
10,736Highest |
9,463 |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Hartford 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 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Hartford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$100,845±$13kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26k 5% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$455,000±$22kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,671±$69Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,734Highest 180% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newmarket and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newmarket and Hartford 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | #39 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Hartford School District | Newmarket School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
9.9 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.