Compare towns
Newington vs Durham vs Ashland vs Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Eliot has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Newington | Durham | Ashland | Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
10,681Highest |
2,183 |
7,146 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
| Newington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
| Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,961 59% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Newington School District | — | Ashland School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| 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 |
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.