Compare towns
Hancock vs Mapleton vs Washburn vs Bennington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Washburn has the most affordable homes ($113k median).
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 | Mapleton | Washburn | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,791 |
1,884Highest |
1,355Lowest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.2±7.7 24% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Washburn 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$56,196±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$112,900±$14kLowest 66% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$482±$62Lowest 66% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
| 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 121% above U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
$1,571Lowest 50% below U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±24.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Washburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hancock and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 45/MSAD 45 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Washburn District High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.