Compare towns
Francestown vs Thornton 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 the most expensive homes ($408k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Thornton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
2,799Highest |
1,588 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Francestown and Thornton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Thornton 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% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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 5% above NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Francestown and Thornton 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 |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% 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 |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
37 min 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None 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.