Compare towns
Bennington vs Stow vs Troy
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).
Stow has the oldest population (median age 57).
Troy has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Stow | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
535Lowest |
2,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
40.2±5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Stow 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% |
15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Troy and Stow 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. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$88,871±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Troy 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 20% below U.S. |
$326,400±$42kHighest about the U.S. average |
$266,600±$39kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,024±$331Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$5,229 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.1%±27.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Troy and Bennington 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 40% above U.S. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow 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 | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school 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.