Compare towns
Nelson vs Dover 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 most kids (27.5% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Francestown has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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 | Dover | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
33,364Highest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown and Nelson 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Francestown 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Francestown 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% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% 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±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Dover and Francestown 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 |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Dover and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Dover School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.