What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).

Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bennington	Lebanon
People
Population	1,588Lowest	14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.1±7.8Highest about the NH average	38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH
	Bennington and Lebanon 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%	14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	57.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH	$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average
	Lebanon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH	$385,400±$29kHighest 4% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH	$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,944Lowest 11% below NH	$8,149Highest 22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lebanon and Bennington 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%	7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 38% above NH	14 minLowest 48% below NH
Work from home	14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lebanon 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	—	#29 of 120 in NH
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Lebanon School District
High school in town	None in town	Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.