Compare towns
Holderness vs Dover vs Mont Vernon 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
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 | Dover | Mont Vernon | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
33,364Highest |
2,636 |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Mont Vernon 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 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Ashland 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Mont Vernon 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 |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,104±$185 26% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Holderness and Dover 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,432Highest 41% above NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Dover 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | Dover School District | Mont Vernon School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— | — |
| 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.