Compare towns
Durham vs Newfields vs Ashland vs Henniker
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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Newfields | Ashland | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,183 |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
| Newfields and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| Newfields and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Durham 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 | — | — | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Ashland School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.