Compare towns
Hancock vs Dummerston vs Bennington vs Peterborough
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).
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 | Dummerston | Bennington | Peterborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,791 |
2,090 |
1,588Lowest |
6,408Highest |
| 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% |
+2.1% 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. |
52.1±1.9 34% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Peterborough 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% |
16.3%±5.1 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%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest 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% |
2%±1.1 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. |
$98,401±$8k 22% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Peterborough 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. |
$404,500±$31k 22% above U.S. |
| 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 15% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,395±$209Highest about the U.S. average |
| Peterborough and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 121% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
$8,655Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±7.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3%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. |
1970 10 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. |
23 min 15% below 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% |
15.8%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Peterborough 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 |
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.