Compare towns
Hancock vs Lincoln 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Lincoln has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Lincoln | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Highest |
1,461Lowest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
46.8±10.1 8% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Hancock and Lincoln 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% |
19.4%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Lincoln 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% |
28.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Lincoln 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 NH: 40.6% |
38.6% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% 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 |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,143±$498Lowest 23% 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 |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Lincoln 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% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lincoln 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 | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.4 |
— |
| 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.