Compare towns
Holderness vs Ashland vs Durham vs Rollinsford
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Holderness | Ashland | Durham | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,183 |
15,080Highest |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% 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%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Rollinsford 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 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% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$89,500±$26k 10% below NH |
| Durham and Holderness 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Holderness and Rollinsford 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,851 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Rollinsford 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% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.