Compare towns
Bennington vs Madison vs Sutton
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).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Madison | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,680Highest |
2,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
| Madison and Sutton 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% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest 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% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Madison and Sutton 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Sutton 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 |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| Sutton 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 |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
| Madison and Sutton 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 |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton 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 |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Bennington 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sutton 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 | Madison School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.