Compare towns
Bennington vs Durham vs Francestown
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
15,080Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown 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 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
| Durham and Francestown 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Durham and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 38% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.