What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

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

Measure	Hancock	Orford
People
Population	1,791Highest	1,295Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	0%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH	48.9±3.3Lowest 13% above NH
	Hancock and Orford 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%	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hancock and Orford 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%	25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hancock and Orford 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%	44%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%	5%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Orford 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 4% below NH	$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH
	Hancock and Orford 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	$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH	$1,263±$686Highest 15% below NH
	Orford 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	$5,836Lowest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	37.8%±10.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Orford and Hancock 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%	5.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1971Highest 8 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8%	10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hancock and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	None in town	Rivendell Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.