Compare towns
Deering vs Dunbarton vs Hillsborough 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
Dunbarton has the most expensive homes ($484k median).
Hillsborough has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
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 | Dunbarton | Hillsborough | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,938 |
3,097Highest |
1,616 |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.7 13% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
49.9±16Highest 15% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Hillsborough and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
12.2%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±1.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
32.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Dunbarton 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 |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$49,205±$28kLowest 50% below NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Dunbarton 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 |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$265,200±$51kLowest 34% below NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$116Highest 12% below NH |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$1,138±$201Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,292±$150 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 |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$5,437Lowest 18% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
64.8%±22.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Dunbarton 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% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1944Lowest 35 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 min 49% above NH |
34 minLowest 25% above NH |
41 minHighest 55% above NH |
37 min 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
10.2%±7.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Dunbarton 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 | — | #33 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dunbarton 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 | 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.