Compare towns
Sutton vs Bennington vs Waterville vs Whitingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Whitingham has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Sutton | Bennington | Waterville | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 790 |
1,588Highest |
680Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±5.7 20% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.4±7.1 19% above U.S. |
| Waterville and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
$70,625±$11kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
$262,300±$30k 21% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
$673±$150Lowest 52% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,975 27% above U.S. |
$5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,055 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±47.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitingham and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
38 min 42% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Contoocook Valley School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.