What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most kids (17.7% under 18).

Conway has the most expensive homes ($314k 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.

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

Measure	Bennington	Conway
People
Population	15,249Highest	10,141Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S.	55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%	12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bennington and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S.	$64,385±$8kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Conway and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S.	$314,000±$43kHighest 6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,133±$63Highest 20% below U.S.	$1,095±$141Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Bennington and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,513Highest 45% above U.S.	$4,087Lowest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.3%±13.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bennington and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.	21 minHighest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	15.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bennington and Conway 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	#58 of 70 in VT	#76 of 120 in NH
School district	Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87	Conway School District
High school in town	Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School	Kennett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.7Lowest
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.