Compare towns
Bennington vs Eliot 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 kids (26% under 18).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hancock has the most homeowners (85.6%).
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 | Eliot | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
7,146Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Eliot 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hancock and Bennington 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. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
4.8%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 | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot and Hancock 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 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.