Compare towns
Plaistow vs Epping 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
Plaistow has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Plaistow | Epping | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
7,430 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Epping and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
| Plaistow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH |
| Epping and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 7% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Epping 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Epping School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.