Compare towns
Plymouth vs Keene vs Wilder 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%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
22,939Highest |
3,087 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%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. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and Keene 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest 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% |
8.1%±3.9 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 |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Keene 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±$22kHighest 12% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Plymouth and Wilder 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. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Keene and Wilder 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. |
$5,505 76% 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%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and Wilder 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest 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% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% 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% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene and Wilder 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 | — | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Keene School District | — | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Keene High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.