What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bennington	Newfane
People
Population	1,588Highest	1,456Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S.	54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S.
Kids under 18	26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bennington and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,875±$7kHighest 4% above U.S.	$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Bennington and Newfane 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.	$284,200±$49kHighest 15% below U.S.
	Newfane and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,266±$238Lowest 10% below U.S.
	Bennington and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,944Highest 91% above U.S.	$5,174Lowest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newfane and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 40% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newfane 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	West River Valley Union Education District #72A
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.