Compare towns
Bennington vs West Bath 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).
West Bath has the most expensive homes ($423k 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 | West Bath | Lisbon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,863Highest |
1,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±5.7 19% above U.S. |
| West Bath 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% |
14.7%±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% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bath 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% |
50.7%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% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath 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. |
$103,333±$27kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$65,500±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| West Bath 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. |
$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$198,000±$19kLowest 40% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% 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. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$4,691 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
22 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Bath 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 | West Bath Public Schools | 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.