Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Francestown vs Hancock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Francestown has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
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 | Portsmouth | Francestown | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
1,398Lowest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
| Hancock and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
$6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.