Compare towns
Durham vs Chichester 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Chichester | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
2,745 |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Chichester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Chichester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Durham and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Chichester 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 |
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.