Compare towns
Bennington vs Hancock vs Ripton
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).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Hancock | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,791Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Ripton 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% |
15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| 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 91% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ripton and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.