Compare towns
Hancock vs Bennington vs Harrisville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Harrisville has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Bennington | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Highest |
1,588 |
885Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
58.9±5.5Highest 36% above NH |
| Harrisville and Hancock 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% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.4%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
35.8%±10.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Harrisville and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.2Lowest 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 | $95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$103,036±$13kHighest 4% above NH |
| Harrisville 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±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$430,500±$48k 7% above NH |
| Hancock and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,611±$367Highest 8% above NH |
| Harrisville and Bennington 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 |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$5,329Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
35%±90.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hancock and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Harrisville 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 |
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.