Compare towns
Holderness vs Durham vs Exeter 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 homeowners (83.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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.
| Measure | Holderness | Durham | Exeter | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
10,681 |
16,151Highest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%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 |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Exeter 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 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% |
59.2% 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% |
6.1%±1.8 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 |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Durham and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Durham and Exeter 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 |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Holderness and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% 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% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.