Compare towns
Ashland vs White River Junction vs Bennington vs Bristol
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Bristol has the oldest population (median age 42.7).
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 | White River Junction | Bennington | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
3,364Highest |
1,588Lowest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
42.7±5.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Bristol 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Bristol 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Bristol 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% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bristol 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. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$78,438±$10k about the U.S. average |
| Bennington and Bristol 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. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$258,300±$63k 22% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,310±$97Highest 7% below U.S. |
| Bristol and Bennington 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. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,162Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bristol and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | — | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.