What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k 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	Deering
People
Population	1,791Lowest	1,938Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH	48.8±5.7Lowest 13% above NH
	Hancock and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Deering 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 NH: 20.1%	23.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	31%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Hancock and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH	$101,250±$16kHighest about the NH average
	Deering 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	$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH	$1,306±$116Highest 12% below NH
	Deering and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Highest 3% above NH	$6,223Lowest 7% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2%	23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hancock and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	14.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	87.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 24% above NH	40 minHighest 49% above NH
Work from home	14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8%	10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hancock and Deering are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.