Compare towns
Bennington vs Berlin vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($342k 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.
| Measure | Bennington | Berlin | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
2,880Highest |
1,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
46.8±10.1 20% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$70,625±$54kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$342,000±$38kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Lincoln and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,143±$498Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$2,984Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lincoln and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lincoln 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.