Compare towns
Bennington vs Dorset vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Dorset | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
2,092Highest |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
46.4±5.7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Lisbon and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$65,500±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Dorset 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 20% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$198,000±$19kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,344±$303 5% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,691Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.