Compare towns
Benson vs Epping vs Plainfield vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Benson | Epping | Plainfield | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
7,430Highest |
1,314 |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5 24% above U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Benson 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Epping and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dresden and Benson 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31k 14% below U.S. |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Epping and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Benson 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Epping School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.