Compare towns
Eliot vs Epping 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
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Eliot | Epping | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
7,430Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Francestown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$104,063±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$408,200±$34kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,358±$256Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Francestown and Epping 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Epping School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.