Compare towns
Newbury vs Francestown vs Thornton vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newbury has the most expensive homes ($463k median).
Francestown has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Bradford has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Newbury | Francestown | Thornton | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,027 |
1,398Lowest |
2,799Highest |
1,565 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.3±3.6Highest 23% above NH |
51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
50.3±5.2Lowest 16% above NH |
| Newbury and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bradford and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bradford and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,477±$18kHighest 18% above NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$108,015±$21k 9% above NH |
| Newbury and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,400±$36kHighest 15% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$341,700±$38kLowest 15% below NH |
| Newbury and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,507±$206Highest about the NH average |
| Bradford and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,695 15% below NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,307 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±22.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | — | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Thornton School District | Kearsarge Regional 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 | 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.