Compare towns
Bennington vs Durham vs Plainfield vs Lisbon
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Plainfield | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
10,681Highest |
2,522 |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
46.4±5.7Highest 7% above NH |
| Lisbon and Bennington 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Plainfield 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lisbon and Plainfield 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$65,500±$13kLowest 34% below NH |
| Plainfield and Durham 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,344±$303 10% below NH |
| Plainfield and Lisbon 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$4,691Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.9%±18.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lisbon 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
22 min 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Plainfield School District | 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 | 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.