Compare towns
Francestown vs Bennington vs Canterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Francestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Francestown | Bennington | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
1,588 |
2,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±3.8 12% 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 | 19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest 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+ | 52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
| Canterbury and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
| Canterbury and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,014Highest 20% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest 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 | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
37 min 38% above NH |
33 minLowest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Shaker Regional 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 |
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.