Compare towns
Nelson vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Francestown has the most homeowners (95.3%).
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 | Salisbury | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
9,281Highest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury 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% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salisbury 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. |
$93,361±$6kLowest 16% 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 |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$408,200±$34k 23% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,604Lowest 48% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Francestown and Salisbury 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% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Triton | 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 |
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.