Compare towns
Rumney vs Penobscot 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).
Penobscot has the shortest commute (25 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 | Penobscot | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,458 |
1,154Lowest |
1,588Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3 14% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Rumney 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% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$63,194±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$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. |
$296,400±$58k 11% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rumney and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33 19% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Penobscot 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. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rumney School District | Penobscot Public Schools | 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.