Compare towns
Grantham vs Orford 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
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Orford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Grantham | Orford | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,465Highest |
1,295Lowest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Grantham and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Orford and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Orford and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54kHighest 7% above NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Grantham and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,100±$39kHighest 15% below NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
| Bennington and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605Highest 14% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Orford and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Grantham 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Grantham School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.