Compare towns
Nelson vs Acworth 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
Nelson has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Acworth has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Francestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Nelson | Acworth | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
851 |
1,398Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.3% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
47.3±14.5 9% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
25.9%±16.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24%±9.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±4.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Acworth and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$82,917±$5kLowest 16% below NH |
$104,063±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
| Francestown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$273,000±$34kLowest 32% below NH |
$408,200±$34kHighest about the NH average |
| Francestown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,352±$291 9% below NH |
$1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
| Francestown and Acworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 16% below NH |
$4,695Lowest 30% below NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1963Lowest 16 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
35 min 30% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Contoocook Valley 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.