Compare towns
Ashland vs Kennebunk vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Kennebunk | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
11,820Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 32% below U.S. |
$107,804±$8kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | RSU 21 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.