Compare towns
Dover vs Ashland vs Holderness
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
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 | Dover | Ashland | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,183 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Ashland and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
| Holderness and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
| Dover and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Ashland School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.