Compare towns
Francestown vs Hooksett vs Nelson
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 oldest population (median age 51.2).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398 |
15,057Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Francestown and Nelson 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Francestown 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Hooksett 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±$34kHighest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Francestown and Hooksett 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Hooksett and Francestown 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Hooksett 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Francestown 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Hooksett School District | Nelson 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 |
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.