Compare towns
Springfield vs Bennington vs Peterborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Peterborough has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Springfield | Bennington | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
1,588 |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH |
| Peterborough and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$98,401±$8k about the NH average |
| Springfield and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average |
| Peterborough and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
| Peterborough and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946 11% below NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Peterborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield and Peterborough 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 | — | — | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.