Compare towns
Hancock vs Durham vs Bennington
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 the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
10,681Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Hancock and Bennington 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Durham 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±$22k 8% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Durham and Hancock 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 |
$1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.