Compare towns
Eliot vs Francestown vs Hancock
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Francestown | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,398Lowest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Lowest 31% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5 32% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Francestown and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hancock 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±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$104,063±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$95,208±$15kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Eliot 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. |
$408,200±$34kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22k 31% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hancock 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. |
$1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Francestown 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. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Eliot 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Francestown and Eliot 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 | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.