Compare towns
Ashland vs Hooksett 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hooksett | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
15,057Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Ashland and Bennington 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Hooksett 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Hooksett 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.