Compare towns
Hancock vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
11,685Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| 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% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.