Compare towns
Plymouth vs Henniker vs Ashland vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Plymouth | Henniker | Ashland | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,969 |
6,197Highest |
2,183Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Ashland and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,296±$295 13% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
| Madbury and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 about the NH average |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Henniker and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17% NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 39% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Henniker and Madbury 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Henniker School District | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| 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 |
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.