Compare towns

Benson vs Enfield vs West Haven

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Enfield has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
West Haven has the most homeowners (90.3%).

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.

MeasureBensonEnfieldWest Haven
People
Population
784
4,475Highest
234Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
51.9±9.4Lowest
33% above U.S.
58.3±5.4Highest
50% above U.S.
54±10.5
39% above U.S.
Enfield and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
7.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
West Haven and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.7%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.9%±4.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Enfield and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
43%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
0.4%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Benson and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,625±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$95,474±$19kHighest
18% above U.S.
$85,250±$29k
6% above U.S.
Enfield and West Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,000±$26kLowest
27% below U.S.
$390,800±$71kHighest
17% above U.S.
$245,000±$34k
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,113±$170Lowest
21% below U.S.
$1,181±$563Highest
16% below U.S.
—
Enfield and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,125Lowest
32% above U.S.
$6,203Highest
99% above U.S.
$4,485
44% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
53.4%±35.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
17.8%±16.7
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Benson and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
20% above U.S.
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
25 min
4% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.4%±6.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Benson and Enfield 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 — #5 of 120 in NH —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Mascoma Valley Regional School District —
High school 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.