Compare towns
Bennington vs Middlesex vs Walpole
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 kids (26% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 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 | Middlesex | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
1,943 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
46.5±10.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Walpole 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%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walpole 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Walpole 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$82,617±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$319,800±$48k 4% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,165±$150Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Bennington 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,078 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Bennington 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 | — | — | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.