Compare towns
Bennington vs Dracut 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).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Dracut | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
32,574Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
41.7±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Bennington 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% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Dracut 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% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dracut and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Hancock 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. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Bennington 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hancock 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 | — | #201 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Dracut | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.