Compare towns
Bennington vs Hardwick vs Troy
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Troy has the shortest commute (25 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 | Hardwick | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,684Highest |
2,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick and Troy 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. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$88,871±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Troy and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$266,600±$39kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Hardwick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,024±$331Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,229 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.1%±27.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick and Troy 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Troy 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Quabbin | Monadnock Regional 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.