Compare towns

Holderness vs Durham vs Barrington 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

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Barrington has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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.

MeasureHoldernessDurhamBarringtonAshland
People
Population
1,917Lowest
10,681Highest
9,489
2,183
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%
NH: +4.6%
+8.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-6.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
39.4±7.4
9% below NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
38.7±2.3
11% below NH
42.3±11.2Highest
about the NH average
Ashland and Holderness 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%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
21.4%±6.4
NH: 18.2%
Barrington 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%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
15.6%±2.7
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%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.4%
NH: 40.6%
35.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
5.3%±1.9
NH: 6%
2.7%±1.7
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,863±$45k
9% above NH
$112,070±$25kHighest
13% above NH
$110,323±$14k
11% above NH
$54,607±$9kLowest
45% below NH
Durham and Barrington 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
$498,000±$45kHighest
24% above NH
$399,100±$30k
about the NH average
$227,000±$29kLowest
44% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385Highest
39% above NH
$1,302±$211
13% below NH
$1,867±$194
25% above NH
$1,096±$155Lowest
26% below NH
Holderness and Barrington 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$7,121
7% above NH
$4,961
26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2
NH: 48.2%
63.1%±25.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
39.1%±14.8
NH: 48.2%
Barrington and Durham 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%
12.4%
NH: 7.2%
7.1%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
21.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
NH: 72.8%
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
87%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
17 minLowest
36% below NH
30 minHighest
13% above NH
26 min
4% below NH
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
18.7%±4.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
9.9%±4.6
NH: 16.8%
Barrington and Durham 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 — #9 of 120 in NH #65 of 120 in NH —
School district Holderness School District — Barrington 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 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.