What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benton has the most expensive homes ($288k median).

Columbia has the most people working from home (11.2%).

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	Benton	Columbia
People
Population	386Lowest	683Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-12.9% NH: +4.6%
Median age	62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH	51.8±10.1Lowest 20% above NH
	Benton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.4%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1%	29.9%±8.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Benton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	7%±3.7Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,895±$4kHighest 31% below NH	$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH
	Benton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$46kHighest 28% below NH	$196,400±$29kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$792±$333 47% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,922Highest 56% below NH	$2,009Lowest 70% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	9.1%±95.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Benton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	10.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	91.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above NH	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	11.2%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Columbia and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.