Compare towns
Jackson vs Bennington vs New Castle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
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 | Jackson | Bennington | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 897 |
1,588Highest |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.5±2.5 40% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| New Castle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.7% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Jackson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
| New Castle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $719,300±$109k 79% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,750±$1k 17% above NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,001 10% below NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 31% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Jackson School District | Contoocook Valley School District | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.