Compare towns
Hancock vs Springfield vs Francestown
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Hancock | Springfield | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
51.2±4.5Lowest 18% above NH |
| Hancock and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$104,063±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
| Francestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Hancock and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
| Francestown and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 24% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.