Compare towns
Bennington vs Chatham vs Jackson
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).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k median).
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 | Chatham | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
430Lowest |
897 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±7.4 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Chatham 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% |
26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.4% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±3.8Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Chatham and Jackson 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 |
$66,042±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
— | $1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Chatham 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% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Jackson School District |
| High school 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.