What stands out worked out from the figures below

Weare has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).

Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Weare	Bennington
People
Population	9,170Highest	1,588Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.6±4Highest 5% above NH	42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average
	Weare and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Bennington and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%	15.2%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bennington and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6%	2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Weare and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH	$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$396,300±$26kHighest about the NH average	$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH	$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH
	Weare and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,272Highest 6% below NH	$5,944Lowest 11% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2%	37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Weare and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 34% above NH	37 minHighest 38% above NH
Work from home	22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8%	14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Weare and Bennington 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	#84 of 120 in NH	—
School district	John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	John Stark Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.