Compare towns
Bennington vs Lisbon vs Exeter
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).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Lisbon | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,583Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
46.4±5.7Highest 7% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Lisbon 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% |
21.5%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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% |
20.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lisbon 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% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$65,500±$13kLowest 34% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,344±$303 10% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$4,691Lowest 30% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.9%±18.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
8.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Lisbon Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.