Compare towns
Bennington vs Hancock vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($267k median).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
1,791 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hancock and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bennington 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%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | — | — | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.