Compare towns
Hancock vs Walpole 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Walpole | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
3,690Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
46.5±10.4Lowest 7% 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%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Hancock 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% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest 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% |
32.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Hancock 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 |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
| Hancock and Franconia 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 |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% 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±$650 19% below NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,281±$278Highest 14% below NH |
| Franconia 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 |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,451Highest 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hancock and Franconia 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 | — | #27 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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.