Compare towns
Bennington vs Meredith vs Sanbornton
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 kids (26% under 18).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Sanbornton has the highest household income ($114k).
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 | Meredith | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
6,758Highest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Sanbornton 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Meredith 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 |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$113,750±$41kHighest 15% above NH |
| Sanbornton and Meredith 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Meredith and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Bennington and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,731 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Sanbornton 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.