Compare towns
Bennington vs Durham 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 (+5.8%).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
15,080Highest |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Lisbon 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lisbon and Bennington 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% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$65,500±$13kLowest 34% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,344±$303 10% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$4,691Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Bennington 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 | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
6.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.