Compare towns
Plymouth vs Keene 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).
Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Keene | Hartford | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
22,939Highest |
10,736 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% 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% |
14.1%±1.6 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% |
19.5%±1.8 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% |
44.1% 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% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Keene 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. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Plymouth 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. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Keene and Hartford 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. |
$6,812Highest 118% 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% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and Keene 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% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest 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. |
1961Lowest 19 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 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Keene School District | Hartford School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Keene High School | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
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.