Compare towns
Francestown vs South Berwick vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
South Berwick has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.
| Measure | Francestown | South Berwick | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
7,670Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.1±7.8 8% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
26%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Bennington 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 29% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$83,875±$7kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Francestown and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,200±$34k 23% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$267,300±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,292±$150Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,944 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 min 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Francestown and South Berwick 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.