Compare towns
Bennington vs Bridgewater vs Lincoln 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
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k 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 | Bridgewater | Lincoln | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
1,169Lowest |
1,461 |
1,583 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
46.8±10.1 8% above NH |
46.4±5.7 7% above NH |
| Bridgewater 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 NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1 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+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% NH: 40.6% |
32.8% NH: 40.6% |
38.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$70,625±$54k 29% below NH |
$65,500±$13kLowest 34% below NH |
| Bennington and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
$198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
| Bridgewater and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,143±$498 23% below NH |
$1,344±$303Highest 10% below NH |
| Lisbon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$2,984 55% below NH |
$4,691 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26 NH: 48.2% |
52.9%±18.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lisbon and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lincoln and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Newfound Area School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.4Highest |
6.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.