Compare towns
Rumney vs Thornton vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rumney has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Thornton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,458Lowest |
2,799Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rumney and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Rumney and Thornton 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 20% below NH |
$90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Thornton 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 23% below NH |
$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Thornton and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
| Bennington and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,716Lowest 29% below NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rumney School District | Thornton School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.