Compare towns
Charlestown vs Franklin vs Unity
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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 | Charlestown | Franklin | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,889 |
8,799Highest |
1,375Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±8.5Lowest 4% below NH |
42.7±2 about the NH average |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Charlestown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
19.1% NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Charlestown and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH |
$71,648±$4k 28% below NH |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH |
$262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
$276,100±$29kHighest 31% below NH |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,099±$85Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,110±$68 26% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
| Unity and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,143 23% below NH |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$5,394Highest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Charlestown and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Unity and Franklin 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 | #113 of 120 in NH | #112 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Franklin School District | Unity School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Franklin High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2 |
— |
| 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.