Compare towns
Ashland vs New Ipswich 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).
New Ipswich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Somersworth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | New Ipswich | Plymouth | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
5,310 |
6,601 |
12,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Ashland and Somersworth 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% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Ashland 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% |
12.3%±3 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$74,504±$13k 25% below NH |
| New Ipswich 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 |
$392,400±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average |
| Somersworth and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$5,647 15% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$6,805Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Somersworth 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| New Ipswich 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 | — | #82 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
12.8Highest |
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.