Compare towns
Plymouth vs Madbury vs Hanover 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 youngest population (median age 24.6).
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
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 | Madbury | Hanover | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
2,203 |
11,685Highest |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
| Ashland and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hanover and Plymouth 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 22% below NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Hanover and Madbury 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hanover and Madbury 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Ashland 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% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.