Compare towns
Ashland vs Keene 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).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
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 | Keene | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
22,939Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Keene 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% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
| Bennington and Keene 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 |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$267,300±$15kHighest 34% below NH |
| Bennington and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,342±$68Highest 10% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Keene 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Keene School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.