Compare towns
Lisbon vs Stark 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
Bennington has the most expensive homes ($267k 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 | Lisbon | Stark | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,583 |
419Lowest |
1,588Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
-14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.4±5.7 7% above NH |
58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stark and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% NH: 40.6% |
17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Stark 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 |
$71,750±$23k 28% below NH |
$83,875±$7kHighest 15% below NH |
| Bennington and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $198,000±$19k 51% below NH |
$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH |
$267,300±$15kHighest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,344±$303Highest 10% below NH |
— | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
| Lisbon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,691 30% below NH |
$2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$5,944Highest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±18.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stark and Lisbon 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bennington and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lisbon Regional School District | Stark 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.