Compare towns
Ashland vs Holderness vs Plymouth vs Somersworth
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).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Plymouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Somersworth has the most people working from home (11.7%).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Holderness | Plymouth | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,917Lowest |
4,969 |
12,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Ashland and Holderness 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% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Somersworth 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% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 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% NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$74,504±$13k 25% below NH |
| Holderness and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$363,100±$60kHighest 10% below NH |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Holderness and Somersworth 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 |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
$6,805Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Somersworth and Plymouth 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 | — | — | #47 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Holderness School District | — | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.