Compare towns
Bennington vs Bow vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Lincoln has the shortest commute (23 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 | Bennington | Bow | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
8,335Highest |
1,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
46.8±10.1Highest 8% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow 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 15% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
| Bow and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 11% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lincoln and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Lincoln 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Bow School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.