Compare towns
Franconia vs Hanover vs Wilmot 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
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Wilmot has the most kids (17.1% under 18).
Hancock has the most homeowners (85.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Franconia | Hanover | Wilmot | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,487 |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
| Franconia and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Wilmot and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
$6,884 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Wilmot 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.