Compare towns

Holderness vs Cornish vs Ashland

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 expensive homes ($363k median).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureHoldernessCornishAshland
People
Population
1,917
1,816Lowest
2,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-6.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
39.4±7.4Lowest
9% below NH
54±8.3Highest
25% above NH
42.3±11.2
about the NH average
Cornish and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±9.3
NH: 18.2%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21.4%±6.4Highest
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%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
27.3%±4.1
NH: 20.1%
25.8%±5.3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Holderness and Cornish 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%
40.6%
NH: 40.6%
35.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6
NH: 6%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
NH: 6%
2.7%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
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
9% above NH
$91,821±$2k
7% below NH
$54,607±$9kLowest
45% below NH
Holderness and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,100±$60kHighest
10% below NH
$296,000±$69k
26% below NH
$227,000±$29kLowest
44% below NH
Holderness and Cornish 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
$1,221±$227
18% below NH
$1,096±$155Lowest
26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,923Lowest
41% below NH
$5,796Highest
13% below NH
$4,961
26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
40.5%±38.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
39.1%±14.8
NH: 48.2%
Cornish 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%
4.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
21.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
NH: 72.8%
94.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the NH average
24 minLowest
9% below NH
26 min
4% below NH
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
12%±4.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
9.9%±4.6
NH: 16.8%
Cornish and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Holderness School District Cornish School District Ashland School District
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

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.