Compare towns
Deering vs Bennington vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deering has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Deering | Bennington | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938Highest |
1,588 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.7 13% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Deering and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,250±$16k about the NH average |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$104,063±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
| Francestown and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,900±$27k 23% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$408,200±$34kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$116 12% below NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
| Francestown and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,223 7% below NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 49% above NH |
37 minLowest 38% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.