What stands out worked out from the figures below

Francestown has the most affordable homes ($408k median).

East Kingston has the most expensive homes ($576k 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.

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

Measure	Francestown	East Kingston
People
Population	1,398Lowest	2,311Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.2±4.5Lowest 18% above NH	51.7±8.9Highest 19% above NH
	East Kingston and Francestown 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%	16.1%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Francestown and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.1%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	East Kingston 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%	46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.8%±1.7Highest NH: 6%
	East Kingston 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	$138,194±$38kHighest 40% above NH
	East Kingston 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±$34kLowest about the NH average	$575,500±$56kHighest 43% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,358±$256 9% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,014Lowest 20% above NH	$9,604Highest 44% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Francestown and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	14.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1994Highest 15 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 57% above NH	32 minLowest 19% above NH
Work from home	27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8%	24.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Francestown and East Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	East Kingston School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	9 photos →

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.