Compare towns
Plymouth vs White River Junction vs Keene 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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Keene has the highest household income ($78k).
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 | White River Junction | Keene | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
3,364 |
22,939Highest |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Keene 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8kHighest about the U.S. average |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Keene and White River Junction 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. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Plymouth and White River Junction 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. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Keene and White River Junction 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. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Keene 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.