Compare towns
Bennington vs Deering vs Lancaster
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Deering has the highest household income ($101k).
Lancaster 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 | Deering | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
1,938 |
3,216Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.4% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| Deering and Lancaster 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% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Lancaster 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% |
23.9%±1.2 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Lancaster 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 |
$101,250±$16kHighest about the NH average |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Deering 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±$15k 34% below NH |
$309,900±$27kHighest 23% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,306±$116Highest 12% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Deering 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 |
$6,223Highest 7% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Lancaster 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% |
14.3% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 38% above NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Lancaster 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 | — | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.