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.
| Measure | Holderness | Sutton | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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.


