Compare towns
Plymouth vs Portsmouth vs Plaistow 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).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Portsmouth | Plaistow | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
22,545Highest |
7,861 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
| Portsmouth 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 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Portsmouth 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Plaistow and Portsmouth 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Portsmouth 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 |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Portsmouth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Portsmouth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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.