Compare towns
Deering vs Douglas vs Sutton vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deering has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Douglas | Sutton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
9,207 |
9,452Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Deering and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas and Sutton 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 25% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,900±$27k 7% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$116 8% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,223 100% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
$6,763Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,944Lowest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±27.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sutton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Douglas 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 | — | #177 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Douglas | Sutton | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.