Compare towns
Ashland vs Bennington vs Ferrisburgh
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
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 | Ashland | Bennington | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,588Lowest |
2,661Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.5±4.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Ferrisburgh and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ferrisburgh and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$106,989±$22kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Ferrisburgh and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$422,700±$35kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,435±$173Highest about the U.S. average |
| Ferrisburgh and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
$6,120Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±19.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ferrisburgh and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Ferrisburgh 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 | — | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Ashland School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.