Compare towns
Hancock vs Dover 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 the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Dover | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Highest |
1,466Lowest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Dover 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% |
48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% 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. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$670±$49Lowest 53% 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. |
$4,510Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover 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% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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.