Compare towns
Bennington vs Springfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Springfield | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
46.8±10.1 8% above NH |
| Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8Lowest 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% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lincoln and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
38.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Bennington and Lincoln 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 |
$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
| Springfield 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 |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
| Springfield 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 |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% 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 | $5,944 11% below NH |
$5,946Highest 11% below NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school 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.