Compare towns
Lincoln vs Hancock vs Albany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lincoln has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Albany has the most affordable homes ($248k 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 | Lincoln | Hancock | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,461 |
1,791Highest |
790Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±10.1 8% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
46.5±9.7Lowest 7% above NH |
| Hancock and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
11.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lincoln and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.6% NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±4Highest NH: 6% |
| Albany and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,625±$54k 29% below NH |
$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH |
$67,639±$19kLowest 32% below NH |
| Hancock and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
$248,300±$68kLowest 38% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,208±$650Highest 19% below NH |
$1,194±$112 20% below NH |
| Hancock and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,984 55% below NH |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$2,554Lowest 62% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±26Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.2%±97.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Lincoln and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±8.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.2%±18.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lincoln and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.4 |
— | — |
| 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.