Compare towns
Bennington vs Epping vs Mapleton 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Epping | Mapleton | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
7,430Highest |
1,884 |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Mapleton 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Epping 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% 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%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Mapleton 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
| Epping 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±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Epping School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.