Compare towns
Bennington vs Berwick vs Lincoln vs Hancock
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 affordable homes ($267k median).
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Lincoln has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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.
| Measure | Bennington | Berwick | Lincoln | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
8,175Highest |
1,461Lowest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.8±10.1 20% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Lincoln 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% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Berwick 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% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hancock and Berwick 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. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$70,625±$54kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$342,000±$38k about the U.S. average |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,143±$498Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
$2,984Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berwick and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Lincoln 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 | — | #101 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.