Compare towns
Marlow vs Bennington vs Lempster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the highest household income ($110k).
Bennington has the most people working from home (14.7%).
Lempster has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Marlow | Bennington | Lempster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
1,588Highest |
953 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
50.8±7.2 17% above NH |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lempster and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$86,607±$12k 13% below NH |
| Marlow and Lempster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49kHighest 19% below NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$241,900±$29kLowest 40% below NH |
| Marlow and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
— |
| Bennington and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 13% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$4,558Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lempster and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minLowest 31% above NH |
37 min 38% above NH |
37 minHighest 40% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
5%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Marlow School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Lempster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 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.