Compare towns
Plymouth vs Plaistow vs Holderness 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).
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Plaistow | Holderness | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
7,861Highest |
1,917Lowest |
2,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
| Ashland and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 27% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Plaistow and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Holderness and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$4,961 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow and Plymouth 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Holderness School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.