Compare towns
Newfane vs Bennington vs Fairlee vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Newfane | Bennington | Fairlee | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
1,588 |
1,066Lowest |
2,090Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 66% above U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Contoocook Valley School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.