Compare towns
Francestown vs Springfield vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Francestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (34 min average).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
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 | Springfield | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398 |
1,122Lowest |
1,588Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Springfield 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 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington 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% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Springfield 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% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Bennington 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 |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Francestown and Springfield 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 |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Francestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Francestown and Bennington 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 |
$5,946 11% below NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Bennington 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
34 minLowest 29% above NH |
37 min 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.