Compare towns
New Boston vs Francestown vs Barrington vs Northwood
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 most people working from home (27.4%).
Barrington has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,165 |
1,398Lowest |
9,489Highest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% 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 |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
| Francestown and Northwood 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%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4Lowest 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% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Northwood 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Lowest 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% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Barrington and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
| New Boston and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| New Boston and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,181Highest 23% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below 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% |
23.7%±29.2 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 33% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
37 min 37% above 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% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and New Boston 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 | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | New Boston School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Barrington School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.