Compare towns
Durham vs Plymouth vs Ashland vs Hanover
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Plymouth has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
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 | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
4,969 |
2,183Lowest |
11,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% 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 |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Ashland and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Hanover 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
63.7% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest 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% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%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 |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Ashland School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.