Compare towns

Holderness vs Sutton 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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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.

MeasureHoldernessSuttonAshland
People
Population
1,917Lowest
9,452Highest
2,183
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±7.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.3±2.5Highest
14% above U.S.
42.3±11.2
9% above U.S.
Sutton 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%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Ashland and Sutton 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%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
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%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Sutton 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±$45k
34% above U.S.
$147,125±$25kHighest
82% above U.S.
$54,607±$9kLowest
32% below U.S.
Sutton 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
9% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
$227,000±$29kLowest
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385Highest
46% above U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
$1,096±$155Lowest
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,923Lowest
26% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
$4,961
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.1%±14.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton and Ashland 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%
5.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
21.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #105 of 282 in MA —
School district Holderness School District Sutton Ashland School District
High school in town None in town Sutton High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6
—
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.