What stands out worked out from the figures below

Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).

Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Francestown	Marlow
People
Population	1,398Highest	855Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.2±4.5Lowest 18% above NH	52.8±11.7Highest 22% above NH
	Marlow and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Marlow and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	33.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.3%±2.2Highest NH: 6%
	Marlow 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±$16kLowest 5% above NH	$110,455±$12kHighest 12% above NH
	Marlow 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	$325,400±$49kLowest 19% below NH
	Francestown and Marlow 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	$1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH
	Francestown and Marlow 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	$5,826Lowest 13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2%	18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Francestown and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981 2 yrs newer than NH	1981 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 57% above NH	35 minLowest 31% above NH
Work from home	27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8%	0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Marlow School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.