Compare towns

Bow vs Bennington vs Dunbarton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).

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.

MeasureBowBenningtonDunbarton
People
Population
8,335
15,249Highest
3,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.7±2.3
15% above U.S.
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bennington and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bennington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$59,446±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
$124,348±$21k
54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$213,300±$15kLowest
36% below U.S.
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,133±$63Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,166±$70
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$4,513Lowest
45% above U.S.
$8,233
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Bennington 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 #26 of 120 in NH #58 of 70 in VT #33 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Dunbarton School District
High school in town Bow High School Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
14.7Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.