Compare towns
Hancock vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Strafford | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7 32% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest 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±$15k 18% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% 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±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below 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±$650 15% below U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% 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 | $6,884 121% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$5,944Lowest 91% 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% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Bennington 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest 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 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.