Compare towns
Holderness vs Newfields vs Keene 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
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Keene | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,023 |
22,939Highest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Holderness and Newfields 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | Newfields School District | Keene School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.