Compare towns
Plymouth vs Henniker vs Hartford vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
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 | Henniker | Hartford | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
6,197 |
10,736Highest |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
31.1±6.1 20% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plymouth and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$95,206±$21kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Henniker and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22k 12% below U.S. |
$356,700±$49kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Henniker and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 22% below U.S. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155 22% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 102% above U.S. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Henniker and Hartford 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Henniker School District | Hartford School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.