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