Compare towns
Deering vs Peterborough 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 most homeowners (87.7%).
Peterborough has the shortest commute (23 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 | Peterborough | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,938 |
6,408Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.8±5.7 13% above NH |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Peterborough 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% |
16.3%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Deering 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% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,250±$16kHighest about the NH average |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Deering and Peterborough 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 |
$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,306±$116 12% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
| Peterborough 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 |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Peterborough 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% |
5.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 49% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
37 min 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Peterborough 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 | — | #59 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Conval Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| 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.