Compare towns
Francestown vs Epping vs Plaistow
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%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Plaistow has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Epping | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
7,430 |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Francestown and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Plaistow 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 |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
| Plaistow and Epping 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 |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Epping and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,014Highest 20% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.