Compare towns
Plymouth vs Dover vs New Ipswich 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
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
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 | Dover | New Ipswich | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
33,364Highest |
5,310 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
| Ashland and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| New Ipswich and Dover 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 |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Dover and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,096±$155 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,647 15% below NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Dover 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and New Ipswich 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Dover School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.7 |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.