Compare towns
Plymouth vs Hanover vs Durham 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 most renters (43.7% rent).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Hanover | Durham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
11,685 |
15,080Highest |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
| Ashland and Hanover 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% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Hanover 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Hanover and Durham 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 18.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Hanover High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.3 |
— |
| 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.