Compare towns
Barnstead vs Bennington vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Lisbon has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Barnstead | Bennington | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
1,588 |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
46.4±5.7Highest 7% above NH |
| Lisbon and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lisbon and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$65,500±$13kLowest 34% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,344±$303 10% below NH |
| Barnstead and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$4,691Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.9%±18.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lisbon and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
74.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Barnstead 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.4 |
| 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.