Compare towns
Plymouth vs Durham vs Somersworth 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
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Somersworth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Durham | Somersworth | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
10,681 |
12,111Highest |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
| Ashland and Somersworth 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Somersworth 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$74,504±$13k 25% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Durham and Plymouth 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Somersworth and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Durham 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% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Plymouth 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — | Somersworth School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | — | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.