Compare towns
Andover vs Bennington vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($367k median).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Andover | Bennington | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135Highest |
1,588Lowest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±11.6 6% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Andover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27k 11% below NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44kHighest 9% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
| Andover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
| Salisbury and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962Highest 11% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Andover and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
32 minLowest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Andover School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Merrimack 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.