Compare towns
Hancock vs Putney vs Thornton 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 the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Putney | Thornton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,791 |
2,622 |
2,799Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51.1±3.4 31% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Thornton 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. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 15% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Bennington and Thornton 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. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$5,032Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Thornton School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.