Compare towns
Durham vs Hancock 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hancock | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,791 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
| Hancock and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
| Durham and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Durham and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.