Compare towns
Ashland vs Norwich 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).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Norwich | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
3,640Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
| 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%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%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% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Bennington 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. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
| Norwich 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Norwich 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 |
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.