What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bennington	Jackson
People
Population	1,588Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+26%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average	60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH
Kids under 18	26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%	4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	67.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	3%±3.4Highest NH: 6%
	Jackson 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	$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH
	Jackson 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±$15kLowest 34% below NH	$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH	$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH
	Jackson and Bennington 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	$6,001Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2%	21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Bennington and Jackson 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%	16.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 38% above NH	19 minLowest 31% below NH
Work from home	14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Jackson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Jackson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.