Compare towns
Bennington vs Reading vs Lisbon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Lisbon has the shortest commute (22 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 | Reading | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
699Lowest |
1,583 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
46.4±5.7 19% above U.S. |
| Reading and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading 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 4% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$65,500±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Reading 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±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$198,000±$19kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,344±$303Highest 5% below U.S. |
| Lisbon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$4,691Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.