Compare towns
Nelson vs Ossipee 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).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
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 | Ossipee | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
4,521Highest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown and Ossipee 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% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest 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%±2 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Nelson 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% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Ossipee 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 |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% 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 |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% 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 |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Ossipee and Francestown 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 |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Francestown 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% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
82%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Governor Wentworth 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 History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.