Compare towns
Bennington vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
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 | Wakefield | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
5,405Highest |
2,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
40.2±5Lowest 7% below NH |
| Wakefield 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% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest 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% |
18.8%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wakefield 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
26.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.1%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Troy 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±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
$88,871±$14k 10% below NH |
| Wakefield 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 |
$322,800±$43kHighest 20% below NH |
$266,600±$39kLowest 34% below NH |
| Wakefield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
$1,024±$331Lowest 31% below NH |
| Wakefield and Bennington 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 |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$5,229 22% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.1%±27.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr 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% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Wakefield 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.