Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Plymouth vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Center Harbor | Plymouth | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
6,601Highest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,108±$255Highest 26% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Plymouth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$6,288Highest 6% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Plymouth and Ashland 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 | — | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | — | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.