Compare towns
Bennington vs Rumney vs Francestown vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Rumney has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
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.
| Measure | Bennington | Rumney | Francestown | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,458 |
1,398Lowest |
3,273Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| Francestown 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 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Rumney and Bristol 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 NH: 40.6% |
41.9% NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Rumney and Bristol 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 15% below NH |
$79,444±$21k 20% below NH |
$104,063±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Francestown 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±$15k 34% below NH |
$309,800±$37k 23% below NH |
$408,200±$34kHighest about the NH average |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
| Francestown and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 11% below NH |
$4,716 29% below NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
77.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 38% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Rumney School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.