Compare towns

Holderness vs Durham vs Ashland

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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.

MeasureHoldernessDurhamAshland
People
Population
1,917Lowest
4,262Highest
2,183
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±7.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.6±5.9Highest
10% above U.S.
42.3±11.2
9% above U.S.
Durham 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
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ashland and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.4%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±5.3
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Durham and Ashland 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
34% above U.S.
$99,181±$5k
23% above U.S.
$54,607±$9kLowest
32% below U.S.
Holderness and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,100±$60kHighest
9% above U.S.
$322,200±$34k
3% below U.S.
$227,000±$29kLowest
32% below U.S.
Holderness and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385Highest
46% above U.S.
—
$1,096±$155Lowest
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,923
26% above U.S.
$3,781Lowest
21% above U.S.
$4,961Highest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±40.9
U.S.: 51.1%
39.1%±14.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ashland and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
21.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #14 of 133 in ME —
School district Holderness School District RSU 05 Ashland School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.