Compare towns
Bennington vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
16,151Highest |
1,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
46.8±10.1Highest 8% above NH |
| Lincoln and Exeter 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%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lincoln and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 11% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lincoln 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.