What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bennington	Washington
People
Population	1,588Highest	1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average	55±4.7Highest 27% above NH
Kids under 18	26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%	13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	29%±3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	32%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	4.6%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
	Washington 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	$89,453±$12kHighest 10% below NH
	Washington and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH	$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH	$1,106±$160Lowest 26% below NH
	Bennington and Washington 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	$4,321Lowest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Bennington and Washington 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%	8.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 38% above NH	36 minLowest 33% above NH
Work from home	14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Washington 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	Washington School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.