Compare towns
Hancock vs Windham vs Exeter 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).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 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 | Windham | Exeter | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,791 |
16,038 |
16,151Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bennington 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% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Exeter 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.