Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Bennington vs Canterbury
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Dunbarton | Bennington | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Highest |
1,588Lowest |
2,353 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Canterbury and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4Lowest 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+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
| Canterbury and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
33 minLowest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.