Compare towns
Ashland vs White River Junction vs Marlborough
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%).
Marlborough has the most kids (23.5% 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 | White River Junction | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
3,364Highest |
2,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
46±9.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Marlborough 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% |
23.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlborough and Ashland 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% |
23.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ashland and Marlborough 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±$4kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$69,032±$9k 14% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Marlborough 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. |
$267,200±$35k 20% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Marlborough 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±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,133±$323 20% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Marlborough 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. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$6,362Highest 104% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±25.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlborough 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Marlborough School District |
| High school 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.