Compare towns
Benton vs Columbia vs Dummer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Dummer has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Benton | Columbia | Dummer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 386 |
683Highest |
299Lowest |
| 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 |
53.6±6.4 24% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dummer and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
29.9%±8.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±4.6Lowest 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% |
16.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
7%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
0%±5.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,895±$4k 31% below NH |
$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH |
$91,250±$21kHighest 8% below NH |
| Dummer and Benton 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 |
$242,200±$51k 40% below NH |
| Benton and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $792±$333 47% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,922Highest 56% below NH |
$2,009Lowest 70% below NH |
$2,898 57% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
9.1%±95.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
| Work from home | 2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.2%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Columbia and Dummer 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 | 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.