Compare towns
Ashland vs Croydon vs Bennington
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).
Croydon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Bennington has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Croydon | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Highest |
798Lowest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
43±9.1Highest about the NH average |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Croydon 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% |
19%±6.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest 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%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Croydon and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Croydon 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 |
$98,333±$21kHighest about the NH average |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Croydon 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 44% below NH |
$317,300±$33kHighest 21% below NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
| Bennington and Ashland 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 |
$3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Bennington 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% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | Croydon School District | Contoocook Valley 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.