Compare towns
Ashland vs Bennington vs Newfields
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 affordable homes ($227k median).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Highest |
1,588Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Newfields 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 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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 45% below NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newfields 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 NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.