Compare towns
Danbury vs Hancock vs Effingham vs Alexandria
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danbury has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Alexandria has the most people working from home (17.4%).
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 | Danbury | Hancock | Effingham | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
1,791 |
1,912 |
1,983Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.4±5.8 9% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
52.6±5 21% above NH |
| Hancock and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3% NH: 40.6% |
25.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,685±$11kLowest 28% below NH |
$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
$89,194±$8k 10% below NH |
| Hancock and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,700±$35kLowest 40% below NH |
$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
$323,300±$27k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$390Highest 14% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,135±$273 24% below NH |
| Danbury and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,760Lowest 44% below NH |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
$5,021 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±36.3 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±40.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alexandria and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
9.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
32 minLowest 18% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±5.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Alexandria and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.