Compare towns
Amesbury vs Nelson vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Francestown has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Amesbury | Nelson | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
648Lowest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$104,063±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$408,200±$34k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
| Amesbury and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Francestown 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Amesbury | Nelson School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.