Compare towns
Hancock vs Amesbury vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Hancock | Amesbury | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
17,403Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 121% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
$5,944Lowest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amesbury 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 | — | #151 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Amesbury | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.