Compare towns
Bennington vs Berwick vs Plainfield 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 the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Lincoln has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Berwick | Plainfield | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
8,175Highest |
2,522 |
1,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±10.1Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Lincoln and Bennington 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% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Plainfield 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% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lincoln and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Berwick 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. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$70,625±$54kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Berwick 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. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$342,000±$38k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,143±$498Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$2,984Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Lincoln 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% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Plainfield 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 | — | #101 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Plainfield School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.