Compare towns
Francestown vs Dunbarton vs Bennington
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 the most people working from home (27.4%).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
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 | Dunbarton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
3,097Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Francestown and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest 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%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Dunbarton 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Dunbarton 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 |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Dunbarton 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 |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Francestown and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,014 20% above NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Dunbarton 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% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
34 minLowest 25% above NH |
37 min 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #33 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Dunbarton 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 |
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.