Compare towns
Bennington vs Strafford vs Rumney
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Rumney has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Rumney 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rumney and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789 20% below U.S. |
$1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Strafford 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. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,716Lowest 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rumney and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Rumney School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.