 |
Community Contact |
Benton Board of Selectmen
William Darcy, Chairman
221 Coventry Road
Benton, NH
03785
|
| Telephone |
(603) 787-6541 |
| Fax |
Not Available |
| E-mail |
bentonnhselectmen@gmail.com |
| Web Site |
www.tobentonnh.org
|
| Municipal Office Hours |
By appointment only
|
| County |
Grafton |
| Labor Market Area |
Haverhill, NH LMA |
| Tourism Region |
White Mountains |
| Planning Commission |
North Country Council |
| Regional Development |
Grafton County Economic Development Council
|
| Election Districts |
|
| US Congress |
District District 2 |
| Executive Council |
District District 2 |
| State Senate |
District District 1 |
| State Representative |
Grafton County District 5 |
| Incorporated: 1764 |
| Origin: This community was first granted in 1764 as Coventry after the Connecticut home of many settlers, holding the name for over 75 years. In 1839, Governor Isaac Hill proposed renaming the town Benton in honor of Thomas Hart Benton, senator from Missouri. The town was incorporated as such in 1840. Senator Benton was known for championing Western expansion through establishment of express, railroad, navigation, and telegraph interests. A prominent natural feature in Benton is Mount Moosilauke, a popular site for hikers. |
| Villages and Place Names: Boutin Corner, Coventry
|
| Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 88 residents in 1790 |
| Population Trends: Population change for Benton totaled 171 over 50 years, from 194 in 1970 to 365 in 2020. The 2022 Census estimate for Benton was 369 residents, which ranked 220th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns. |
| Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 7.6 persons per square mile of land area. Benton contains 48.5 square miles of land area and 0.2 square miles of inland water area. |
| Municipal Services |
| Type of Government |
Selectmen |
| Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2023 |
$127,475 |
| Budget: School Appropriations, 2022-2023 |
$614,173 |
| Zoning Ordinance |
2021 |
| Master Plan |
No |
| Capitol Improvement Plan |
No |
| Industrial Plans Reviewed By |
|
| Boards and Commissions | |
| Elected: | Selectmen; Planning |
| Appointed: | |
| Public Library |
No Library |
| Emergency Services |
| Police Department |
State Police |
| Fire Department |
Contracted out |
| Emergency Medical Service |
Woodsville Ambulance |
| Nearest Hospital(s) |
Distance |
Staffed Beds |
| Cottage Hospital, Woodsville |
12 miles |
35 |
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| Utilities |
| Electric Supplier |
NH Electric Coop |
| Natural Gas Supplier |
None |
| Water Supplier |
Private wells |
| Sanitation |
Private septic |
| Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant |
No |
| Solid Waste Disposal |
| Curbside Trash Pickup | Private |
| Pay-As-You-Throw Program | No |
| Recycling Program | None |
| Telephone Company |
Consolidated Communications |
| Cellular Telephone Access |
Limited |
| Cable Television Access |
Satellite only |
| Public Access Television Station |
No |
| High Speed Internet Service: |
| Business | No |
| Residential | No |
| (NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes |
| 2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) |
$17.05 |
| 2022 Equalization Ratio |
59.0 |
| 2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) |
$10.04 |
| 2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type |
| Residential Land and Buildings | 93.6% |
| Commercial Land and Buildings | 0.3% |
| Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other | 6.1% |
| (ACS 2017-2021) Housing |
| Total Housing Units |
151 |
| Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached |
139 |
| Units in Multiple-Family Structures: |
|
| Two to Four Units in Structure |
0 |
| Five or More Units in Structure |
0 |
| Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units |
12 |
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial) |
| Total Population |
Community |
County |
| 2022 |
369 |
91,126 |
| 2020 |
374 |
91,118 |
| 2010 |
364 |
89,118 |
| 2000 |
314 |
81,826 |
| 1990 |
330 |
74,998 |
| 1980 |
333 |
65,806 |
| |
| Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021 |
| Population by Gender |
| Male: 187 |
|
Female: 186 |
| Population by Age Group |
| Under age 5 |
|
1 |
| Age 5 to 19 |
|
24 |
| Age 20 to 34 |
|
30 |
| Age 35 to 54 |
|
47 |
| Age 55 to 64 |
|
132 |
| Age 65 and over |
|
139 |
| Median Age |
|
62.3 years |
| Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over |
|
340 |
| High school graduate or higher |
|
78.5% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher |
|
16.8% |
| (ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $ |
| Per capita income |
$25,895 |
| Median family income |
$75,625 |
| Median household income |
$59,000 |
| Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers |
| Male |
$33,125 |
| Female |
$31,250 |
| Individuals below the poverty level |
12.0% |
| (NHES - ELMI) Labor Force |
| Annual Average |
2012 |
2022 |
| Civilian Labor Force |
145 |
142 |
| Employed |
139 |
137 |
| Unemployed |
6 |
5 |
| Unemployment Rate |
4.1% |
3.5% |
| (NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages |
| Annual Average Covered Employment |
2012 |
2022 |
| Goods Producing Industries |
| Average Employment |
n |
0 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
n |
$0 |
| |
|
|
| Service Providing Industries |
| Average Employment |
n |
n |
| Average Weekly Wage |
n |
n |
| |
|
|
| Total Private Industry |
| Average Employment |
n |
n |
| Average Weekly Wage |
n |
n |
| |
|
|
| Government (Federal, State, and Local) |
| Average Employment |
173 |
133 |
| Average Weekly Wage |
$803 |
$1,041 |
| |
|
|
| Total, Private plus Government |
| Average Employment |
n |
n |
| Average Weekly Wage |
n |
n |
If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.
| (NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care |
| Schools students attend: |
Grades K-12 are tuitioned to Haverhill Cooperative (Bath, Benton, Haverhill, Piermont, Warren) |
SAU 23 |
| Career Technology Center(s): |
River Bend Career & Technical Center (VT) |
| Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) |
Elementary |
Middle/Junior High |
High School |
Private/Parochial |
| Number of Schools |
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| Grade Levels |
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| Total Enrollment |
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| 2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): |
Total Facilities: 0 |
Total Capacity: 0 |
| Nearest Community/Technical College: Lakes Region; White Mountains |
| Nearest Colleges or Universities: Plymouth State |
| Largest Businesses |
Product/Service |
Employees |
Established |
| Glenncliff Home NH DHHS |
Nursing home |
200 |
1971 |
| Coventry Garage |
Garage |
1 |
1989 |
| Elliott Construction |
Construction |
1 |
|
| Joe Boutin, Jr & Son |
Logging & excavation |
2 |
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Employer Information Supplied by Municipality
| (Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation |
| Road Access |
US Routes |
|
|
State Routes |
112, 116 |
| Nearest Interstate, Exit |
I-91 (VT), Exit 17 |
|
Distance |
13 miles |
| Railroad |
No |
| Public Transportation |
No |
| |
| Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation |
| Dean Memorial, Haverhill | Runway | 2,500 ft. asphalt |
| Lighted? |
Yes |
Navigational Aids? |
No |
| Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service |
| Lebanon Municipal |
Distance |
47 miles |
| Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport |
1 |
| |
| Driving distance to selected cities: |
| Manchester, NH |
95 miles |
| Portland, ME |
112 miles |
| Boston, MA |
145 miles |
| New York City, NY |
307 miles |
| Montreal, Quebec |
179 miles |
| (ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work |
| Workers 16 years and over |
120 |
| Drove alone, car/truck/van |
75.0% |
| Carpooled, car/truck/van |
14.2% |
| Public transportation |
0.0% |
| Walked |
0.0% |
| Other Means |
7.5% |
| Worked at home |
3.3% |
| Mean Travel Time to Work |
27.4 minutes |
| |
| Percent of Working Residents: |
(ACS 2017-2021) |
| Working in community of residence |
32.5% |
| Commuting to another NH community |
61.7% |
| Commuting out-of-state |
5.8% |
| Recreation, Attractions, and Events |
| Municipal Parks |
| YMCA/YWCA |
| Boys Club/Girls Club |
| Golf Courses |
| Swimming: Indoor Facility |
| Swimming: Outdoor Facility |
| Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility |
| Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility |
| Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility |
| Bowling Facilities |
| Museums |
| Cinemas |
| Performing Arts Facilities |
| Tourist Attractions |
| Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H) |
| Youth Sports: Baseball |
| Youth Sports: Soccer |
| Youth Sports: Football |
| Youth Sports: Basketball |
| Youth Sports: Hockey |
| Campgrounds |
| Fishing/Hunting |
| Boating/Marinas |
| Snowmobile Trails |
| Bicycle Trails |
| Cross Country Skiing |
| Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area |
| Overnight or Day Camps |
| |
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Nearest Ski Area(s): Loon & Cannon Mountains |
| |
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Other: Hiking; White Mountain National Forest: Long Pond; Mount Moosilauke; Black Mountain |
Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 7/3/23
All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.
