Compare towns
Francestown vs Nelson vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Francestown has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Nelson | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398 |
648Lowest |
4,543Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Francestown and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Nelson 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 NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Francestown and North Hampton 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 5% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton 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±$34k about the NH average |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,014 20% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Nelson School District | North Hampton 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 |
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.