What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plymouth has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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

Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Plymouth	Bennington
People
Population	6,601Highest	1,588Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH	42.1±7.8Highest about the NH average
Kids under 18	13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	15.2%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bennington and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54%Highest NH: 40.6%	33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH	$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH
	Bennington and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$292,400±$22kHighest 27% below NH	$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH
	Plymouth and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH	$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH
	Bennington and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,288Highest 6% below NH	$5,944Lowest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bennington and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	18.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	74.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 31% below NH	37 minHighest 38% above NH
Work from home	11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bennington and Plymouth 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	#47 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Plymouth Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
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.