Compare towns
Plymouth vs Ashland vs Durham vs Holderness
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 most renters (43.7% rent).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Ashland | Durham | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
2,183 |
15,080Highest |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Ashland and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest 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+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| Durham and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.