Compare towns
Holderness vs Bow vs Ashland vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Bow | Ashland | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,183 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Ashland and Bow 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plainfield 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% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Bow and Plainfield 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 |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Holderness and Plainfield 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 |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Bow 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% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Plainfield 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Holderness School District | Bow School District | Ashland School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.