What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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	Hampstead
People
Population	1,398Lowest	9,102Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH	45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH
	Francestown and Hampstead 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%	21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Hampstead and Francestown 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%	21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hampstead 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%	44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6%
	Hampstead 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	$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH
	Hampstead 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	$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH	$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH
	Francestown and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,014Lowest 20% above NH	$8,634Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2%	44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Francestown and Hampstead 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%	3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 57% above NH	30 minLowest 13% above NH
Work from home	27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8%	21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Francestown and Hampstead 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	—	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Hampstead 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.