Compare towns
Bennington vs Hardwick vs Hancock
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).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
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 | Hardwick | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
2,684Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8 16% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Hardwick 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% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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 4% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| 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±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Quabbin | Contoocook Valley School District |
| 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.