Compare towns
Bennington vs Needham vs Rumney
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Rumney has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Needham | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
32,459Highest |
1,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Rumney and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Bennington 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Rumney 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Rumney 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Rumney School District |
| High school 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.