Compare towns
Deering vs Dracut 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).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Bennington has the most people working from home (14.7%).
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 | Dracut | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
32,574Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
| Deering and Bennington 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% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Dracut 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% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dracut 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 25% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Dracut 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 7% below U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$116 8% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,223Highest 100% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±27.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Dracut 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 | — | #201 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dracut | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.