Compare towns
Hancock vs Benson 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%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Benson | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Highest |
784Lowest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Benson 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$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. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170Lowest 21% 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. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% 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% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson 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% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest 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 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.