What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Strafford has the most kids (23% 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.

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

Measure	Hancock	Strafford
People
Population	1,791Highest	1,372Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S.	51.4±4.7Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Hancock and Strafford 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%	23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Strafford 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±$15kLowest 18% above U.S.	$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Strafford and Hancock 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.	$431,300±$40kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Hancock and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,208±$650Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S.
	Hancock and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Lowest 121% above U.S.	$7,149Highest 129% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Strafford 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Strafford 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	Strafford School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.