Compare towns
Bennington vs Epping vs Madison
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Epping | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
7,430Highest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
| Madison and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Madison and Epping 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 NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epping 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 15% below NH |
$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Epping and Madison 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 |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Epping and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
| Epping and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 11% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Epping 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Epping School District | Madison School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.