Compare towns
New Boston vs Francestown vs Barrington vs Bedford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Francestown has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k 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 | New Boston | Francestown | Barrington | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,165 |
1,398Lowest |
9,489 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
| Francestown and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Barrington and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $154,250±$25k 56% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Bedford and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,181 23% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 33% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Bedford 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | — | #65 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | New Boston School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Barrington School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.