Compare towns
Ashland vs Plymouth vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the oldest population (median age 42.3).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Plymouth | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
6,601Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Ashland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$77,027±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4kHighest 4% below U.S. |
| White River Junction 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 32% below U.S. |
$292,400±$22kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Plymouth and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,108±$255 22% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,288Highest 102% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction 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 | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.