Compare towns
Bennington vs Hancock vs Wolfeboro
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%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
1,791 |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro 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%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$15kHighest 4% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Hancock and Wolfeboro 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% 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 |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Hancock 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.

