Compare towns
Bennington vs New Hampton 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).
New Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | New Hampton | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
2,509Highest |
1,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
46.8±10.1 8% above NH |
| New Hampton and Lincoln 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% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest 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% |
24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lincoln and New Hampton 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% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| New Hampton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
$95,250±$35kHighest 4% below NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
| New Hampton 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 |
$383,700±$37kHighest 5% below NH |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
| New Hampton and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,143±$498 23% below NH |
| Bennington and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 11% below NH |
$4,973 25% below NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lincoln 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% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lincoln and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Newfound Area School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.