Compare towns
Bennington vs Keene 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).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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 | Keene | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
22,939Highest |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lisbon and Keene 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% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$65,500±$13kLowest 34% below NH |
| Bennington and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kHighest 34% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
| Bennington and Keene 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 |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,344±$303Highest 10% below NH |
| Lisbon and Keene 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 |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
$4,691Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
52.9%±18.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lisbon and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 min 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Keene School District | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
6.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.