What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).

Francestown has the most affordable homes ($408k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rye	Francestown
People
Population	5,611Highest	1,398Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 27% above NH	51.2±4.5Lowest 18% above NH
	Rye and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Francestown and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1%	21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	2.6%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
	Francestown and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH	$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH
	Rye and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH	$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH	$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Lowest 13% above NH	$8,014Highest 20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2%
	Francestown and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	95.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above NH	42 minHighest 57% above NH
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8%	27.4%±7.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Rye 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	#2 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Rye School District	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.