Compare towns
Bennington vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($198k median).
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 | Strafford | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,583 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.4±5.7 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%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% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford 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. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$65,500±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$198,000±$19kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% 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 | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$4,691Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and Strafford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | 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 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.