Compare towns
Hancock vs Effingham 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 most expensive homes ($437k median).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Effingham | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
1,912Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
46.9±12.4 8% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Hancock and Effingham 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% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Effingham 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% |
18.7%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| 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 4% below NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| 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 8% above NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
| 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 3% above NH |
$5,163Lowest 23% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bennington and Hancock 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% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
32 minLowest 18% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Effingham 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 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | 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 |
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.