Compare towns
Benson vs Hampton vs Putnam vs Fair 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
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k 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 | Hampton | Putnam | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
16,426Highest |
540Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4 38% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton and Putnam 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Putnam 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% |
30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Hampton 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% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Fair Haven 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 |
$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$6,813Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton and Benson 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.