What stands out worked out from the figures below

Francestown has the oldest population (median age 51.2).

Middlesex has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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	Middlesex
People
Population	1,398Lowest	1,943Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S.	44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Francestown and Middlesex 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%	21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middlesex and Francestown 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%	20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Francestown and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Middlesex 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 29% above U.S.	$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S.
	Middlesex 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 23% above U.S.	$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S.
	Francestown and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,358±$256Highest 4% below U.S.	$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S.
	Francestown and Middlesex 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.	$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Francestown and Middlesex 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%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 59% above U.S.	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	27.4%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Middlesex and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.