Compare towns
Ashland vs Hopkinton vs Plaistow vs Plymouth
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).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Hopkinton | Plaistow | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
6,037 |
7,861Highest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Hopkinton 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Hopkinton 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% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow 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 |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Hopkinton 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% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow 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 | — | #28 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Hopkinton School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkinton High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.