What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Benton has the most expensive homes ($288k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dalton	Benton
People
Population	916Highest	386Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.7% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	44.5±12.9Lowest about the NH average	62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH
Kids under 18	20.6%±11.3Highest NH: 18.2%	6.7%±4.2Lowest 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+	17.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	37.3%±12.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	18.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4.3Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.4Lowest 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	$81,429±$36kHighest 18% below NH	$67,895±$4kLowest 31% 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	$191,400±$68kLowest 52% below NH	$288,300±$46kHighest 28% 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	$3,561Highest 47% below NH	$2,922Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.7%±83.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	100%±100Highest 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	19.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	15.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 26% below NH	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	5.9%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8%	2.6%±3.4Lowest 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.