What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the oldest population (median age 58).

Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

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	Jefferson	Bennington
People
Population	1,013Lowest	1,588Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58±3.5Highest 34% above NH	42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1%	15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	33.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6%
	Bennington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH	$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH
	Bennington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kHighest 26% below NH	$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH
	Jefferson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH	$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Lowest 37% below NH	$5,944Highest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bennington and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minLowest 29% above NH	37 minHighest 38% above NH
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8%	14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Jefferson and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
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.