What stands out worked out from the figures below

Albany has the most affordable homes ($248k median).

Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Albany	Hancock
People
Population	790Lowest	1,791Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.5±9.7Lowest 7% above NH	53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH
	Hancock and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	15.4%±2.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Hancock and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.8%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	53.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Highest NH: 6%	4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Albany and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,639±$19kLowest 32% below NH	$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH
	Hancock and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$248,300±$68kLowest 38% below NH	$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$112Lowest 20% below NH	$1,208±$650Highest 19% below NH
	Hancock and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,554Lowest 62% below NH	$6,884Highest 3% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.2%±97.7Highest NH: 48.2%	32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Albany and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	85.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 17% below NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	16.2%±18.5Highest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Albany and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.