What stands out worked out from the figures below

Francestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Pittsfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).

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	Pittsfield
People
Population	1,398Lowest	4,105Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH	41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.8%±6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Pittsfield and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1%	18.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Francestown and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	4.5%±3.1Highest NH: 6%
	Pittsfield 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	$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH
	Francestown and Pittsfield 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	$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH	$1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH
	Francestown and Pittsfield 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	$5,694Lowest 15% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±77Lowest NH: 48.2%	67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Pittsfield and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	11.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 57% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8%	11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#93 of 120 in NH
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Pittsfield School District
High school in town	None in town	Pittsfield High School
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.