Compare towns
Hancock vs Wells 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 highest household income ($95k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
11,713Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Wells 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% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Hancock 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wells 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 18% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
| Wells and Bennington 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and Hancock 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.