Compare towns
Francestown vs Hudson vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Francestown has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Hudson | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398 |
20,077Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson 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±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,200±$34k 23% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
$1,406±$82Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Hudson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #224 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Hudson | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.