Compare towns
Holderness vs Ashland vs Plymouth vs Center Harbor
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 highest household income ($108k).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Plymouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Plymouth | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917 |
2,183 |
4,969Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Holderness 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% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
| Holderness and Center Harbor 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 |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
| Center Harbor 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 |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$6,483Highest about the NH average |
$4,667 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Plymouth 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% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plymouth 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 | — | — | #47 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | Ashland School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| 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.