Compare towns
Bennington vs Bridgewater vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Bennington | Bridgewater | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
1,169Lowest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Francestown 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% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Francestown 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% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$104,063±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
| Francestown and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$398,600±$65k about the NH average |
$408,200±$34kHighest about the NH average |
| Francestown and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
| Francestown and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 11% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown 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% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 38% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Newfound Area 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.