Compare towns
Nelson vs Hooksett 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hooksett | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
| Hooksett and Francestown 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$408,200±$34kHighest about the NH average |
| Francestown and Hooksett 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Hooksett 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Hooksett 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Hooksett 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.