Compare towns
Stow vs Bennington vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most expensive homes ($326k median).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Stow | Bennington | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 535 |
1,588Highest |
378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.5±8.6 43% above U.S. |
| Stow and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.2%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stow and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$50,833±$31k 37% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$42kHighest about the U.S. average |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$209,700±$30kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,304 6% above U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$1,478Lowest 53% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.7%±12Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.