What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hillsborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hillsborough	Bennington
People
Population	1,616Highest	1,588Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.9±16Highest 15% above NH	42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average
	Hillsborough and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.2%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	32.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1%	15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	33.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6%
	Bennington and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$49,205±$28kLowest 50% below NH	$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH
	Bennington and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$265,200±$51kLowest 34% below NH	$267,300±$15kHighest 34% below NH
	Bennington and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,138±$201Lowest 24% below NH	$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH
	Bennington and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,437Lowest 18% below NH	$5,944Highest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64.8%±22.9Highest NH: 48.2%	37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hillsborough and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 35 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 55% above NH	37 minLowest 38% above NH
Work from home	10.2%±7.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bennington and Hillsborough 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	#97 of 120 in NH	—
School district	—	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.