Compare towns
Bennington vs Sutton vs Waterville
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).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Sutton | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
790 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Waterville 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% |
21.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville 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 4% above U.S. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Waterville 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. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville and Sutton 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 40% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.