Compare towns
Francestown vs Nelson vs Stoddard
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 expensive homes ($408k median).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Highest |
648Lowest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
| Stoddard and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest 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%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard 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±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
| Francestown and Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
| Francestown and Nelson 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 |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Francestown and Nelson 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 |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Stoddard 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | Nelson School District | Stoddard 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.