Compare towns
Ashland vs Lebanon 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).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Somersworth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Lebanon | Plymouth | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
14,999Highest |
4,969 |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Ashland and Lebanon 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% |
14.6%±2.4 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%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Lebanon 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$74,504±$13k 25% below NH |
| Lebanon 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 |
$385,400±$29kHighest 4% below NH |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Lebanon 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% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr 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 |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
16 min 39% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Lebanon School District | — | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | — | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.