Compare towns
Francestown vs Middlesex 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 oldest population (median age 51.2).
Middlesex has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.
| Measure | Francestown | Middlesex | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
1,943Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.1±7.8Lowest 8% 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%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Middlesex 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%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest 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%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% 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±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below 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±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,292±$150Lowest 9% 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,944Lowest 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest 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 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.