Compare towns
Hancock vs Cornish vs Bennington vs Peterborough
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%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Peterborough has the most renters (43.7% rent).
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 | Cornish | Bennington | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,791 |
1,816 |
1,588Lowest |
6,408Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
52.1±1.9 20% above NH |
| Cornish and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Peterborough 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% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Peterborough 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% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 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 |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$98,401±$8kHighest about the NH average |
| Peterborough 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 |
$296,000±$69k 26% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$404,500±$31k about the NH average |
| Hancock and Peterborough 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 |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,395±$209Highest 6% below NH |
| Peterborough and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$8,655Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1970 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Peterborough and Hancock 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 | — | — | — | #59 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Cornish School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Conval Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.