Compare towns
Francestown vs Hancock vs Sutton vs New Boston
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 oldest population (median age 53.8).
Sutton has the shortest commute (29 min average).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | Hancock | Sutton | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
1,791 |
2,239 |
6,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
| Hancock and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
| Sutton and Hancock 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 |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
| New Boston and Sutton 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±$22k 8% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
| New Boston and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
| Sutton and Francestown 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 |
$6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$8,181Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Hancock 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
29 minLowest 10% above NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and New Boston 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 | — | — | — | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | New Boston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
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| 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.