Compare towns
Bennington vs Bridgewater vs Lincoln vs Rumney
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Rumney has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
1,169Lowest |
1,461 |
1,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% 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 |
44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
| 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% |
18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Rumney 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±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
$82,361±$9k 17% below NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
$79,444±$21k 20% 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±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$398,600±$65kHighest about the NH average |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
$309,800±$37k 23% 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±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$1,125±$201 25% below NH |
$1,143±$498 23% below NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
| Bennington and Lincoln 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 |
$4,716 29% 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%±26Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Lincoln and Rumney 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% |
10.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7 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 | Rumney School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.4 |
— |
| 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.