Compare towns
Ashland vs Wilder 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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
3,087Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Ashland 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Ashland 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% |
60.2%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% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Bennington and Wilder 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. |
$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
| Wilder 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. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Wilder 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. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilder 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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 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 |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | — | Contoocook Valley 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.