What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).

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	1,056Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S.	52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S.
	Washington 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 U.S.: 22%	16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bennington and Washington 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.	$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$15kHighest 20% below U.S.	$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S.
	Bennington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S.	$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S.
	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 91% above U.S.	$3,485Lowest 12% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bennington and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 40% above U.S.	31 minLowest 16% above U.S.
Work from home	14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	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	Echo Valley Community Union School District #67
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.