What stands out worked out from the figures below

Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Francestown	Chester
People
Population	1,398Lowest	5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH	47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH
	Francestown and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2%	19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Francestown and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Francestown and Chester 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%	41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Chester and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH	$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,358±$256 9% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,014Lowest 20% above NH	$8,464Highest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Francestown and Chester 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 57% above NH	35 minLowest 31% above NH
Work from home	27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Francestown and Chester 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	—	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Chester School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.