What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).

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	Dalton
People
Population	386Lowest	916Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.7% NH: +4.6%
Median age	62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH	44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Dalton and Benton 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%	17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	20.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.8%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6%
	Dalton and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,895±$4kLowest 31% below NH	$81,429±$36kHighest 18% below NH
	Dalton 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	$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH
	Benton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$900±$825 40% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,922Lowest 56% below NH	$3,561Highest 47% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	57.7%±83.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Benton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	19.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above NH	20 minLowest 26% below NH
Work from home	2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	5.9%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Dalton 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.