Compare towns
Bennington vs Dummerston vs Plainfield
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 affordable homes ($267k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Dummerston | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,090 |
2,522Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Plainfield 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% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dummerston 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. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dummerston and Bennington 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.