Compare towns
Ashland vs Plainfield vs Marlborough
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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Marlborough has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Plainfield | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
2,522Highest |
2,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Marlborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Marlborough and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 45% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$69,032±$9k 30% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,133±$323 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,362 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Marlborough 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Plainfield School District | Marlborough School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.