Compare towns
Bennington vs Deering vs Weare 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 kids (26% under 18).
Deering has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Weare has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
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 | Deering | Weare | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,938 |
9,170Highest |
1,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
46.8±10.1 8% above NH |
| Deering 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% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lincoln 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% NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Weare 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±$16k about the NH average |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
| Weare and Deering 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 |
$309,900±$27k 23% below NH |
$396,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
| Weare 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 |
$1,306±$116 12% below NH |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
| Weare and Deering 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 |
$6,223 7% below NH |
$6,272Highest 6% below NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 38% above NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | — | — | #84 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | John Stark Regional High School | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.