Compare towns
Bennington vs Middlesex vs Francestown
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 the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Middlesex has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Francestown has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Middlesex | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,943Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Francestown and Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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 4% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$104,063±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$408,200±$34kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,358±$256Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Francestown and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 40% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Contoocook Valley 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.