Compare towns
Ashland vs Ogunquit vs Marlborough 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Marlborough has the shortest commute (21 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 | Ogunquit | Marlborough | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,379Lowest |
2,207Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
46±9.2 18% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Marlborough 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$69,032±$9k 14% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$267,200±$35k 20% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
— | $1,133±$323 20% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961 59% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,362Highest 104% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlborough 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Marlborough School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.