Compare towns
Holderness vs Thornton vs Canterbury 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 youngest population (median age 39.4).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($444k median).
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 | Thornton | Canterbury | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,917Lowest |
2,799Highest |
2,353 |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Thornton and Canterbury 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Canterbury 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Thornton 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 |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Canterbury 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 |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Canterbury and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$385 39% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Canterbury and Holderness 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 |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$7,421Highest 11% above NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Thornton 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% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7% NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Canterbury 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Holderness School District | Thornton School District | Shaker Regional School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | None 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.