Compare towns
Holderness vs Madbury vs Plymouth 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%).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Madbury | Plymouth | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,203 |
4,969Highest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury 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% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Madbury 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 |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Holderness and Madbury 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 |
$6,483 about the NH average |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Plymouth 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% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Madbury and Plymouth 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 | — | — | #47 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop 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.