Compare towns
Hancock vs Bath 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Bath has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Bath | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
8,815Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Bath 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath 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±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% 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 | $436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30k 7% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% 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 | $6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bath 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bath 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 | — | #31 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Morse High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8 |
— |
| 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.