Compare towns
Hancock vs Ira vs Benson
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 the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Ira has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Ira | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Highest |
381Lowest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 38% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Ira and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Benson and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson 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±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Hancock and Benson 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. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Highest 15% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.