Compare towns
Ashland vs Winchester 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 most renters (35.9% rent).
Winchester has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
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 | Winchester | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
4,212Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
42.6±4.5Highest about the NH average |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Winchester 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.9%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Winchester 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% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Ashland 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 |
$67,723±$11k 32% below NH |
$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
| Bennington and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$242,900±$20k 40% below NH |
$267,300±$15kHighest 34% below NH |
| Bennington and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,209±$143 19% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
| Bennington and Winchester 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 |
$5,314 20% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
45%±17.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Winchester 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% |
14.1% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
4.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Ashland 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 | — | #120 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Ashland School District | Winchester School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.