Compare towns
Holderness vs Keene vs South Berwick 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 highest household income ($108k).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
South Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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.
| Measure | Holderness | Keene | South Berwick | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
22,939Highest |
7,670 |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Holderness and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60k 9% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Holderness 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. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Holderness and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$4,961 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Keene 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% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | Keene School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
13.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.