Compare towns
Francestown vs South Berwick vs Hancock
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 most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
7,670Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5 32% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest 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% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick and Hancock 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. |
$95,208±$15kLowest 18% 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±$34kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Hancock and South Berwick 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. |
$1,208±$650Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% 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% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest 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.