Compare towns
Bennington vs Thornton 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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Troy has the youngest population (median age 40.2).
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 | Thornton | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,799Highest |
2,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
40.2±5Lowest 7% below NH |
| Thornton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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 |
$90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH |
$88,871±$14k 10% below NH |
| Thornton 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 |
$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
$266,600±$39kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,024±$331Lowest 31% below NH |
| Bennington and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,229 22% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.1%±27.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District | Monadnock Regional 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 |
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.