Compare towns
Bennington vs Waterville vs Rumney
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).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Rumney has the most expensive homes ($310k median).
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 | Waterville | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
680Lowest |
1,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Rumney 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% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.3Lowest 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Rumney 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±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$79,444±$21k about the U.S. average |
| Bennington and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$309,800±$37kHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Rumney and Bennington 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. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$1,064±$100Lowest 25% 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. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,716 51% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rumney and Waterville 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 40% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Rumney 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 |
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.