Compare towns
Bennington vs Norwich 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 affordable homes ($267k median).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
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 | Norwich | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Bennington 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% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich 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. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Norwich School District | 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 | 6 photos → |
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.