Compare towns
Bennington vs Dover vs Lincoln
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Dover | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
2,308Highest |
1,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
47.5±4Highest 22% above U.S. |
46.8±10.1 20% above U.S. |
| Dover 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$70,625±$54kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$342,000±$38k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
— | $1,143±$498Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Lincoln 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,984Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
37 min 39% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.