Compare towns
Bennington vs Gorham vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Gorham | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,682Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
| Gorham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Gorham 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±$7k 15% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH |
| Hancock and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
| Bennington and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 11% below NH |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gorham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.