Compare towns
New Boston vs Northwood 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
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Northwood | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,165Highest |
4,688 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| 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% |
18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Highest 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% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Northwood and New Boston 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 |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% 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 |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
$1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
| Francestown and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,181Highest 23% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Northwood 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% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 33% above NH |
37 min 37% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | New Boston School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.