Compare towns
Francestown vs Thornton vs Hancock
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 kids (19.8% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Thornton | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
2,799Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
| 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%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Thornton 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 5% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
| Francestown and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
| Hancock and Francestown 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 |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
| Francestown and Thornton 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 |
$6,884 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest 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.