Compare towns
Hancock vs Thornton 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 highest household income ($95k).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k 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 | Hancock | Thornton | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
2,799Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
51.1±3.4Lowest 18% above 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±4.9Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
| Hancock and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
| Franconia and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,281±$278Highest 14% below NH |
| Franconia and Thornton 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 |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,451Highest 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Thornton 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% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.