Compare towns
Rumney vs Dorset 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
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Rumney | Dorset | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,458Lowest |
2,092Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rumney and Dorset 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% |
72.1%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% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rumney and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,444±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,800±$37k 7% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716Lowest 51% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 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 18% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rumney School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.