Compare towns

Sanbornton vs Franklin vs Northwood

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k median).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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.

MeasureSanborntonFranklinNorthwood
People
Population
3,053Lowest
8,799Highest
4,688
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+3.1%
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.9±5.4Lowest
3% below NH
42.7±2Highest
about the NH average
42.4±7.8
about the NH average
Franklin and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.1%±5.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.8%±3.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18%±4.4
NH: 18.2%
Sanbornton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.5%±4.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
21.3%±3.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.5%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
19.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
38.9%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
3.2%±1.4
NH: 6%
3.8%±2Highest
NH: 6%
Northwood and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$113,750±$41k
15% above NH
$71,648±$4kLowest
28% below NH
$129,375±$23kHighest
31% above NH
Northwood and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$452,300±$30kHighest
12% above NH
$262,200±$22kLowest
35% below NH
$363,000±$13k
10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,289±$198Highest
14% below NH
$1,110±$68Lowest
26% below NH
$1,201±$372
19% below NH
Sanbornton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,731
14% below NH
$4,886Lowest
27% below NH
$5,806Highest
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.3%±23.5
NH: 48.2%
38.8%±11.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
23.7%±29.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Franklin and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7%
NH: 7.2%
7.5%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
NH: 72.8%
64.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
89%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1970
9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
16% above NH
32 min
18% above NH
37 minHighest
37% above NH
Work from home
15.8%±6.1
NH: 16.8%
8.3%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
18.7%±6.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
Northwood and Sanbornton 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 #42 of 120 in NH #112 of 120 in NH #24 of 120 in NH
School district Winnisquam Regional School District Franklin School District Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District
High school in town None in town Franklin High School Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
16.2Highest
11.5Lowest
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.