Benton

Grafton Countyβ€’White Mountainsβ€’Population: 374

Overview

Benton is a small, rural town in Grafton County near Mount Moosilauke, with extensive forested land and one of the smallest populations in the state. The town's remote setting reflects its location at the edge of the White Mountains.

Mount Moosilauke and the surrounding White Mountain National Forest offer hiking, while Benton's proximity to Haverhill and Woodsville provides access to regional services. The town's very small population keeps development minimal.

Housing in Benton remains affordable, drawing outdoor enthusiasts and value-seekers who want remote, mountain-adjacent living.

Pros & Cons

βœ“ Pros

  • β€’Mountain access
  • β€’Affordable
  • β€’Hiking trails
  • β€’Rural character

βœ— Cons

  • β€’Very remote
  • β€’Very small population
  • β€’Limited services

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Benton.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$8.55
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$8.11
Equalization ratio: 95%
Municipal
$-1.53
Local School
$8.05
State Education
$1.06
County
$0.97

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$8.55$8.11$-1.53$8.05$1.06$0.97

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$2,138$178
$350,000$2,993$249
$500,000$4,275$356
$750,000$6,413$534
$1,000,000$8,550$713

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $8.55 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
74.5Β°F
Winter Avg High
29.9Β°F
Annual Snowfall
72 in
Annual Rainfall
46.7 in
Sunny Days/Year
249
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
145 mi
~171 min drive
Manchester
95 mi
~113 min drive
Portsmouth
137 mi
~163 min drive
Concord
78 mi
~93 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
47/100
Trail Miles
63.6
0
Boat Launches
2
State Parks
1
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:31 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:1

Economy & Demographics

πŸ’°Income

Median Household Income
$64,167
Per Capita Income
$26,221
Median Family Income
$82,813

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$268,400
Homeownership Rate
92.16%

πŸ’ΌEmployment

In Labor Force
117

πŸŽ“Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
13.71%
Total with Degree
48

πŸ‘₯Demographics

Median Age
62.1 years
Avg Household Size
2.39 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) β€’ Census Data Year: 2022 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Benton with Other Towns

See how Benton stacks up against other NH communities.