Compare towns
Francestown vs Weare vs Bow
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 people working from home (27.4%).
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Weare | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,398Lowest |
9,170Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Francestown and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Weare 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Weare and Bow 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 |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Weare 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 57% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Weare 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 | — | #84 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.