Compare towns
Francestown vs Mapleton vs Bennington
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 most people working from home (27.4%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Bennington has the most kids (26% 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 | Mapleton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
1,884Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Francestown and Mapleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Bennington 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,200±$34kHighest 23% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256Highest 4% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
| Francestown and Bennington 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Contoocook Valley 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 |
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.

