Compare towns
Hancock vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
16,151Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hancock 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 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.