Compare towns
Lisbon vs Plainfield 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 ($198k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Plainfield | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,583Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±5.7Highest 7% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% 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 | 21.5%±6.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lisbon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,500±$13kLowest 34% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $198,000±$19kLowest 51% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,344±$303 10% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
| Plainfield and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,691Lowest 30% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±18.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Lisbon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lisbon Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Lisbon Regional School (High) | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.4 |
— | — |
| 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.