Compare towns

Ashland vs Holderness vs North Berwick

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).
Holderness has the highest household income ($108k).
North Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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.

MeasureAshlandHoldernessNorth Berwick
People
Population
2,183
1,917Lowest
5,129Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.3±11.2Highest
9% above U.S.
39.4±7.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.6±4.7
7% above U.S.
Ashland and North Berwick 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%
14.7%±9.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
Ashland and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.8%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
31.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.9%±5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
29%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
North Berwick and Ashland 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
32% below U.S.
$107,863±$45kHighest
34% above U.S.
$101,875±$16k
26% above U.S.
Holderness and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$227,000±$29kLowest
32% below U.S.
$363,100±$60k
9% above U.S.
$428,500±$33kHighest
29% above U.S.
North Berwick and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$155Lowest
22% below U.S.
$2,068±$385Highest
46% above U.S.
$1,105±$116
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,961Highest
59% above U.S.
$3,923
26% above U.S.
$3,735Lowest
20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.1%±14.8
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.2%±28.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
North Berwick 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
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
9.9%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North Berwick and Ashland 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 — — #82 of 133 in ME
School district Ashland School District Holderness School District RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town None in town None in town Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.