Compare towns
Hancock vs Hanover vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Hancock | Hanover | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
11,685Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% 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 | 15.4%±2.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Hancock and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest 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+ | 53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest 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 | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lafayette Regional 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 |
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.