What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).

Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Bennington	Reading
People
Population	1,588Highest	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S.	51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S.
	Reading and Bennington 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%	18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bennington and Reading 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%	28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Reading 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.	$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Reading 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.	$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S.	$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S.
	Bennington and Reading 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.	$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading 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%	8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 40% above U.S.	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading 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	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.