What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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	Rye
People
Population	1,398Lowest	5,611Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.2±4.5Lowest 18% above NH	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH
	Rye and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2%	18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Francestown and Rye 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%	31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Highest NH: 6%	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Francestown and Rye 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	$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH
	Rye 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±$34kLowest about the NH average	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH	$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,014Highest 20% above NH	$7,519Lowest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2%	44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Francestown and Rye 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%	6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 57% above NH	29 minLowest 8% above NH
Work from home	27.4%±7.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Rye 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	—	#2 of 120 in NH
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Rye 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.