Compare towns
Rumney vs Dalton vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rumney has the most expensive homes ($310k median).
Dalton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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.
| Measure | Rumney | Dalton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,458Lowest |
6,256Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dalton and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rumney and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,444±$21k about the U.S. average |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$83,875±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Bennington and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,800±$37kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rumney and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100 25% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716 51% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rumney and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Rumney 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Rumney School District | Central Berkshire | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.