Compare towns
Bennington vs Bristol vs Jefferson
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 kids (26% under 18).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Bristol | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
3,273Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bristol 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% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jefferson and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bristol and Bennington 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 |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
| Bennington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$296,700±$92kHighest 26% below NH |
| Jefferson and Bennington 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 |
$1,310±$97Highest 12% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
| Bristol and Bennington 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 |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$4,196 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol 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% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
35 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jefferson and Bennington 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Newfound Area School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.