Compare towns
Hancock vs Wilton 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 the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Wilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Wilton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
3,960Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
46.8±5.2 8% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Hancock and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
22%±6.3 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Wilton 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% |
36.9% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Wilton 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 4% below NH |
$114,349±$21kHighest 15% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Wilton 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 8% above NH |
$381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,382±$70Highest 7% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Wilton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$7,612Highest 14% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Wilton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
30 minLowest 12% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wilton 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 | — | #54 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.1 |
— |
| 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.