Compare towns
Bennington vs Denmark vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Denmark has the shortest commute (34 min average).
Stow has the most expensive homes ($326k 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 | Denmark | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
1,054 |
535Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
54.4±5 40% above U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Stow and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.8%±7.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Denmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Denmark and Stow 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 4% above U.S. |
$64,167±$10k 21% below U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$250,000±$68kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$326,400±$42kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,409±$207Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Denmark and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$2,259Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$3,304 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
90.6%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 40% above U.S. |
34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.