What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

Ashland has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bennington	Ashland
People
Population	1,588Lowest	2,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average	42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average
	Ashland and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Lowest 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+	15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Lowest 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	$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$15kHighest 34% below NH	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH
	Bennington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH
	Bennington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,944Highest 11% below NH	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Ashland and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978 1 yr older than NH	1978 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 38% above NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bennington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Ashland School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.