Compare towns
Ashland vs Durham vs Marlborough 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Marlborough has the oldest population (median age 46).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Marlborough | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
15,080Highest |
2,207 |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Marlborough 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$69,032±$9k 30% below NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$267,200±$35k 34% below NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,133±$323 24% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Durham and Bennington 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 |
$6,362 5% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
13.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
68.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 21% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | Marlborough School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.