Compare towns
Franklin vs Webster vs Pittsfield vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Franklin | Webster | Pittsfield | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,799Highest |
2,227Lowest |
4,105 |
4,212 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
-0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 about the NH average |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
42.6±4.5 about the NH average |
| Webster and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Franklin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7% NH: 40.6% |
20.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Pittsfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4k 28% below NH |
$107,171±$14kHighest 8% above NH |
$74,318±$14k 25% below NH |
$67,723±$11kLowest 32% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
$338,500±$30kHighest 16% below NH |
$294,800±$30k 27% below NH |
$242,900±$20kLowest 40% below NH |
| Webster and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH |
$1,239±$182 17% below NH |
$1,209±$143 19% below NH |
| Webster and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$6,021Highest 10% below NH |
$5,694 15% below NH |
$5,314 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
45%±17.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
11.3% NH: 7.2% |
14.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.8% NH: 72.8% |
72.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 18% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5 NH: 16.8% |
4.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Webster and Pittsfield 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | — | #93 of 120 in NH | #120 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Pittsfield School District | Winchester School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | None in town | Pittsfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2 |
— | — | — |
| 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.