Compare towns

Hancock vs Dummerston 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%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.

MeasureHancockDummerstonBennington
People
Population
1,791
2,090Highest
1,588Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.8±4.5Highest
38% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
42.1±7.8Lowest
8% above U.S.
Hancock and Dummerston 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%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bennington and Dummerston 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%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
33.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
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±$15k
18% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$83,875±$7kLowest
4% above U.S.
Dummerston 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
31% above U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$267,300±$15kLowest
20% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,208±$650Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,292±$150
9% below U.S.
Dummerston and Bennington 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.
$4,536Lowest
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%
44.1%±32.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.2%±20.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Dummerston 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%
4.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
Work from home
14.9%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.7%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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.