Compare towns
Ashland vs Durham vs Newington 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Ashland | Durham | Newington | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
10,681Highest |
939Lowest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Newington 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Newington and Durham 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Newington and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Durham 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% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Bennington 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Newington 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 | 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.