Compare towns
Bennington vs Rumney vs Thornton
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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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.
| Measure | Bennington | Rumney | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,458Lowest |
2,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Rumney and Thornton 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% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Rumney and Thornton 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±$21kLowest 20% below NH |
$90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH |
| Thornton 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 34% below NH |
$309,800±$37k 23% below NH |
$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
| Thornton 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 13% below NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
| Bennington and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$4,716Lowest 29% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.8% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Rumney School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.