What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).

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.

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

Measure	Bennington	Stark
People
Population	1,588Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
Kids under 18	26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bennington and Stark 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%	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stark 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±$7kHighest 15% below NH	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
	Bennington and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$15kHighest 34% below NH	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$150 13% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,944Highest 11% below NH	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark and Bennington 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%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 38% above NH	34 minLowest 27% above NH
Work from home	14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bennington and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Stark School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.