Compare towns

Francestown vs Hancock vs Springfield vs Stoddard

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%).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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.

MeasureFrancestownHancockSpringfieldStoddard
People
Population
1,398
1,791Highest
1,122
1,072Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.1%
NH: +4.6%
+4.7%
NH: +4.6%
-4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+11.5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
51.2±4.5Lowest
18% above NH
53.8±4.5Highest
24% above NH
51.4±8.8
19% above NH
53±4
22% above NH
Hancock and Stoddard 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%
15.4%±2.2
NH: 18.2%
15.1%±8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.5%±3.4
NH: 18.2%
Francestown and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.7%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
30.2%±2.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.5
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.9%
NH: 40.6%
53.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
36.4%
NH: 40.6%
34.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.1
NH: 6%
4%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
0%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
3.5%±1.7
NH: 6%
Hancock and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$104,063±$16kHighest
5% above NH
$95,208±$15k
4% below NH
$100,893±$19k
about the NH average
$94,904±$11kLowest
4% below NH
Francestown and Springfield 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
$436,700±$22kHighest
8% above NH
$384,100±$50k
5% below NH
$330,300±$20kLowest
18% below NH
Hancock and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,358±$256Highest
9% below NH
$1,208±$650
19% below NH
$1,096±$217
26% below NH
$895±$751Lowest
40% below NH
Francestown and Hancock 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
$6,884
3% above NH
$5,946
11% below NH
$4,316Lowest
35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±77Highest
NH: 48.2%
32.4%±55.6
NH: 48.2%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
52.6%±100
NH: 48.2%
Francestown and Stoddard 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%
4.1%
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
85.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
90.7%
NH: 72.8%
93.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1969Lowest
10 yrs older than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
42 minHighest
57% above NH
33 minLowest
24% above NH
34 min
29% above NH
34 min
25% above NH
Work from home
27.4%±7.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
14.9%±3.2
NH: 16.8%
16.7%±11.6
NH: 16.8%
9.5%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Francestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Contoocook Valley School District Contoocook Valley School District — Stoddard 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 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.