Compare towns
Hancock vs Castleton 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%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Castleton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
4,453Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Bennington 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% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hancock and Bennington 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| 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 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.