Compare towns
Canterbury vs Dover vs Sutton vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($444k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Canterbury | Dover | Sutton | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,353 |
33,364Highest |
2,239 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
| Sutton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Canterbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH |
| Canterbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Canterbury 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Dover School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.