Compare towns
Bennington vs Hancock vs Rye
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).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
1,791 |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye 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% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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 NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 15% below NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye 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 34% below NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye 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% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
29 minLowest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Rye 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 |
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.