Compare towns
Ashland vs Bennington vs Marlborough vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most renters (35.9% rent).
Bennington has the highest household income ($84k).
Marlborough has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k 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 | Marlborough | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,588 |
2,207Highest |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
46±9.2 6% above NH |
46.4±5.7Highest 7% above NH |
| Lisbon and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Ashland 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 45% below NH |
$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
$69,032±$9k 30% below NH |
$65,500±$13k 34% below NH |
| Bennington and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29k 44% below NH |
$267,300±$15kHighest 34% below NH |
$267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
$198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
| Bennington and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,133±$323 24% below NH |
$1,344±$303Highest 10% below NH |
| Lisbon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 26% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$6,362Highest 5% below NH |
$4,691Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.9%±18.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lisbon and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
22 min 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Ashland School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Marlborough School District | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 6.4 |
| 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.