Compare towns
Bennington vs Strafford vs Troy
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).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Strafford | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
4,306Highest |
2,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
40.2±5Lowest 7% below NH |
| Strafford 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 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.2%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$88,871±$14k 10% below NH |
| Strafford and Troy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$266,600±$39kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,024±$331Lowest 31% below NH |
| Strafford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 11% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$5,229Lowest 22% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.1%±27.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Troy 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Bennington 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Strafford School District | Monadnock Regional 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.