Compare towns
Hancock vs Walpole vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Walpole | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
3,690Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Hancock and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Walpole 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%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Walpole 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% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Hancock and Bennington 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 |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,292±$150Highest 13% below NH |
| 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 3% above NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hancock and Bennington 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.