Compare towns
Bennington vs Peru 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 kids (26% under 18).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Rumney has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Peru | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
434Lowest |
1,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.3±8.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
| Peru and Rumney 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Rumney 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% |
21.4%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rumney and Peru 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% |
54.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rumney 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±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$151,875±$83kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Peru and Bennington 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. |
$400,000±$105kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
| Peru and Rumney 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. |
$1,271±$820 10% below U.S. |
$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Peru 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. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29%±47.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rumney 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% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| 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.

