What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k 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	Braintree
People
Population	1,791Highest	1,026Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±4.5Lowest 38% above U.S.	58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S.
	Braintree and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hancock and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Braintree 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hancock and Braintree 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.	$79,803±$5kLowest about the U.S. average
	Hancock and Braintree 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.	$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$650Highest 15% below U.S.	$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S.
	Hancock and Braintree 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.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.4%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Braintree 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%	11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	81%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Braintree 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	Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.