What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has the most kids (15.4% under 18).

Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hancock	Jackson
People
Population	1,791Highest	897Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+26%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.8±4.5Lowest 24% above NH	60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH
	Jackson and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±2.2Highest NH: 18.2%	4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%	28.4%±6.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hancock and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	67.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Hancock and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH	$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH
	Jackson 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±$22kLowest 8% above NH	$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH	$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH
	Jackson 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	$6,001Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.4%±55.6Highest NH: 48.2%	21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hancock and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	16.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above NH	19 minLowest 31% below NH
Work from home	14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8%
	Jackson 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	Jackson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.