Compare towns
Ashland vs Holderness vs Mont Vernon 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).
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Holderness | Mont Vernon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,917Lowest |
2,636Highest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Mont Vernon 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,104±$185 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Holderness and Plainfield 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$9,432Highest 41% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | — | — | #4 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Holderness School District | Mont Vernon 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.