Compare towns
Bennington vs Rumney vs Waitsfield
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 affordable homes ($267k median).
Rumney has the oldest population (median age 44.5).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,458Lowest |
1,918Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
| Rumney and Waitsfield 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% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Waitsfield 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Rumney 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% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rumney and Waitsfield 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 |
$84,375±$34kHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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. |
$309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Waitsfield 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. |
$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Waitsfield 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. |
$6,208Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rumney and Waitsfield 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waitsfield 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 | Rumney School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
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.