Compare towns
Nelson vs Reading vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Reading has the most renters (15.1% rent).
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 | Reading | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
699 |
1,398Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Reading 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 24% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$104,063±$16kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$408,200±$34kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,358±$256Highest 4% below U.S. |
| Francestown and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.