Compare towns
Lisbon vs Bow vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon has the most affordable homes ($181k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Lisbon | Bow | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730Lowest |
8,335Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.6±8.3Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Lisbon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.6%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±3.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,813±$7kLowest 31% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $181,300±$27kLowest 55% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$317Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Bow and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,402Lowest 34% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±23.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lisbon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Bennington 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.