Compare towns
Bennington vs Wakefield 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).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
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 | Wakefield | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
5,405Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
| Hancock and Wakefield 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% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 15% below NH |
$100,976±$11kHighest about the NH average |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
| Wakefield and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,375±$434Highest 8% below NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
| Wakefield and Bennington 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 |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Hancock 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% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
33 minLowest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield 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 | — | #118 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Wakefield 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 → |
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.