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.
| Measure | Bennington | Eliot | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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.

