Compare towns
Ashland vs Lee vs Plainfield 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).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Lee | Plainfield | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
4,576Highest |
2,522 |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Lee and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Plainfield 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 |
— | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Ashland and Lee 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 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.