Compare towns
Nelson vs Dummer 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).
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Francestown has the most expensive homes ($408k 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 | Nelson | Dummer | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648 |
299Lowest |
1,398Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
53.6±6.4Highest 24% above NH |
51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
| Dummer and Francestown 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% |
19.4%±5.1Lowest 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% |
21.4%±4.6Lowest 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% |
16.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0%±5.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Francestown and Nelson 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 |
$91,250±$21kLowest 8% 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 |
$242,200±$51kLowest 40% 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 |
— | $1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
| Francestown and Nelson 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 |
$2,898Lowest 57% 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.2% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest 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 | — | 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.