Compare towns
Durham 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
Durham has the most expensive homes ($498k median).
Plymouth has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Ashland has the oldest population (median age 42.3).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Plymouth | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
4,969 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
22.8±0.9 47% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1 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+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63.7% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Durham and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Durham and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | — | Ashland School District |
| High school 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.