Compare towns
Bennington vs Sharon 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).
Sharon has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
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 | Sharon | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,577Lowest |
1,791Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Sharon 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% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Sharon 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hancock and Bennington 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. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Sharon 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±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Bennington 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. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Sharon 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 | 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.