Compare towns
Ashland vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
2,605Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest 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 |
$82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
| Bennington and Hampton Beach 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 |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Hampton Beach 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 |
$6,115Highest 8% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school 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.