Compare towns
Troy vs Amherst 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
Troy has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
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 | Troy | Amherst | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,005 |
11,861Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.2±5Lowest 7% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Amherst and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Troy and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,871±$14k 10% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $266,600±$39kLowest 34% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,024±$331Lowest 31% below NH |
$1,462±$256Highest about the NH average |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Amherst and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,229Lowest 22% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.1%±27.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Troy and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #20 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.