Compare towns
Bennington vs Mapleton vs Hancock vs Lincoln
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Lincoln has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Mapleton | Hancock | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,884Highest |
1,791 |
1,461Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.8±10.1 20% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Lincoln 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Lincoln 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest 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±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$70,625±$54kLowest 13% below 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$342,000±$38k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,143±$498 19% 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$2,984 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±26Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lincoln 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lincoln 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Contoocook Valley School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 7.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.