Compare towns
Bennington vs Lancaster vs Hancock
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).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
3,216Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
| Hancock and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Lancaster 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 15% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH |
| 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±$15k 34% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% 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 |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Contoocook Valley 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.