Compare towns
Bennington vs Rumney vs Townsend
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).
Rumney has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,458Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rumney 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% |
18.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Townsend 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% |
24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Rumney 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. |
$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Rumney 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% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 40% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 24% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Rumney School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.