What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hancock	Ashland
People
Population	1,791Lowest	2,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average
	Hancock and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%	25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hancock and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Hancock and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$650Highest 19% below NH	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH
	Hancock and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Highest 3% above NH	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Ashland and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hancock and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Ashland School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.