What stands out worked out from the figures below

Francestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Francestown	West Bath
People
Population	1,398Lowest	1,863Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.2±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S.	54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S.
	West Bath 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 U.S.: 22%	14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Francestown and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	West Bath 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 29% above U.S.	$103,333±$27kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Francestown and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$408,200±$34kLowest 23% above U.S.	$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S.
	West Bath 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 4% below U.S.	$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Francestown and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,014Highest 157% above U.S.	$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.1%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Francestown and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 59% above U.S.	21 minLowest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Francestown and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	West Bath Public Schools
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.