Compare towns
Plymouth vs Norwich vs Holderness 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).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
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 | Norwich | Holderness | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601Highest |
3,640 |
1,917Lowest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Norwich 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Ashland 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%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holderness 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% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45k 34% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Holderness 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. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60k 9% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 22% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Holderness and Norwich 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,961 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Plymouth 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% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Norwich School District | Holderness School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.