Compare towns
Sanbornton vs Bennington vs Ashland vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Sanbornton | Bennington | Ashland | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,053Highest |
1,588Lowest |
2,183 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Ashland and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Sanbornton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,289±$198 14% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,731 14% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 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 | 4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Ashland School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.