Compare towns
Hancock vs Lyme 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%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
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 | Lyme | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Highest |
1,710 |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Hancock and Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Lyme 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Lyme and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Lyme School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.