What stands out worked out from the figures below

Francestown has the most affordable homes ($408k median).

New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Francestown	New Castle
People
Population	1,398Highest	827Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.2±4.5Lowest 18% above NH	62.8±6Highest 45% above NH
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2%	12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Francestown and New Castle 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%	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	68.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Francestown and New Castle 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 5% above NH	$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average	$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH	$3,501Highest 135% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,014Lowest 20% above NH	$8,509Highest 28% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Francestown and New Castle 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%	4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	93%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 57% above NH	33 minLowest 22% above NH
Work from home	27.4%±7.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8%
	New Castle 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	New Castle School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.