Compare towns
Deering vs Chester vs Bennington
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 population (median age 48.8).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% 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.
| Measure | Deering | Chester | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
5,300Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Deering and Chester 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% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Chester 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% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Chester and Bennington 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 |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,900±$27k 23% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$116Highest 12% below NH |
— | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
| Deering and Bennington 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 |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±27.6 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Deering 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 49% above NH |
35 minLowest 31% above NH |
37 min 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester 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 | — | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Chester 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.