Compare towns
Bennington vs Dover vs Wilder
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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Dover | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
33,364Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Bennington 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% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Dover 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 4% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Dover 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 20% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.