Compare towns
Holderness vs Ashland vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holderness has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,183 |
7,146Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness and Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashland and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60k 9% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,961Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Ashland 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 | — | — | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Holderness School District | Ashland School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.