Compare towns
Francestown vs Thornton vs New Boston
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 homeowners (95.3%).
Thornton has the shortest commute (23 min average).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
2,799 |
6,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
| 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% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston 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% |
17%±4.3Lowest 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% |
44.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
| Thornton and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
| New Boston 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 |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% 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 | $8,014 20% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,181Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest 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% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
88%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Lowest 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 | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District | New Boston 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.