Compare towns
Bennington vs South Berwick 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).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($397k median).
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 | South Berwick | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
3,381Highest |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
41.4±6.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.4±5.7Highest 19% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and South Berwick 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% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lisbon and South Berwick 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% |
47.2%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% |
4%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick 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. |
$90,972±$22kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$65,500±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| South Berwick 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. |
$396,700±$66kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$198,000±$19kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,344±$303 5% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Lisbon 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. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,691 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bennington and South Berwick 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Lisbon Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Lisbon Regional School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 6.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.