Compare towns
Francestown vs Nelson vs Surry
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).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Highest |
648Lowest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
| Francestown and Surry 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Surry 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% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Surry 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% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry 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±$16k 5% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
| Surry 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$331,400±$23kLowest 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±$256 9% below NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Surry and Francestown 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest 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% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Lowest 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 | — |
| High school 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.