What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Bennington	Whitingham
People
Population	1,588Highest	1,368Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S.	46.4±7.1Highest 19% above U.S.
	Whitingham 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%	19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bennington and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bennington and Whitingham 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.	$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S.
	Bennington and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$15kHighest 20% below U.S.	$262,300±$30kLowest 21% below U.S.
	Bennington and Whitingham 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.	$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,944Highest 91% above U.S.	$5,055Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Whitingham and Bennington 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%	15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minLowest 40% above U.S.	38 minHighest 44% above U.S.
Work from home	14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bennington and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Twin Valley Unified School District #75
High school in town	None in town	Twin Valley Middle High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	7.8
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.