Compare towns
Ashland vs Webster 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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Webster | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
2,227Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Webster 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% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Webster 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 45% below NH |
$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Webster 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 |
$6,021Highest 10% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster 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% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Webster and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | Merrimack Valley 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 |
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.