Compare towns
Bennington vs Hope vs Mapleton 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).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Hope | Mapleton | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
1,748 |
1,884Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Hope 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% |
21.1%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Hope 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. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hope 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% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope 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 | Hope Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.