Compare towns

Bennington vs Eliot vs Rumney

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).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Rumney has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).

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.

MeasureBenningtonEliotRumney
People
Population
1,588
7,146Highest
1,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.1±7.8Lowest
8% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
44.5±2.3
14% above U.S.
Eliot and Rumney 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%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Bennington and Rumney 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%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.1%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Rumney 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%
43.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Rumney 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±$7k
4% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kHighest
26% above U.S.
$79,444±$21kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$267,300±$15kLowest
20% below U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$309,800±$37k
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$150
9% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,064±$100Lowest
25% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,944Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$4,716
51% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.2%±20.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.1%±21.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Rumney 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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
33 min
24% above U.S.
Work from home
14.7%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Eliot 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 — #19 of 133 in ME —
School district Contoocook Valley School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Rumney School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.