What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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	Benson
People
Population	1,791Highest	784Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S.	51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S.
	Hancock and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Benson 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 U.S.: 17.2%	26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hancock and Benson 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%	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Benson 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.	$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
	Hancock and Benson 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.	$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$650Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Hancock and Benson 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.	$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Benson 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Benson and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.