Compare towns
Bennington vs Townshend 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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Townshend | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588 |
1,538Lowest |
1,791Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5 38% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Hancock 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest 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±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| 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±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650 15% 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. |
$5,364Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% 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. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
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| 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.