Compare towns

Sanbornton vs Franklin vs Northwood vs Rollinsford

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%).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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.

MeasureSanborntonFranklinNorthwoodRollinsford
People
Population
3,053
8,799Highest
4,688
2,626Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+3.1%
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+2.8%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.9±5.4
3% below NH
42.7±2Highest
about the NH average
42.4±7.8
about the NH average
38.8±5.5Lowest
10% below NH
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%±3.5
NH: 18.2%
18%±4.4
NH: 18.2%
17.7%±4.8Lowest
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%±3.9
NH: 20.1%
21.5%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±4.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.7%
NH: 40.6%
19.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
38.9%
NH: 40.6%
41.2%Highest
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%
2.8%±1.5
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
$89,500±$26k
10% below 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
$398,100±$33k
about the NH average
Sanbornton and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,289±$198
14% below NH
$1,110±$68Lowest
26% below NH
$1,201±$372
19% below NH
$1,809±$394Highest
21% above NH
Rollinsford and Sanbornton 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
$5,806
13% below NH
$6,851Highest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.3%±23.5
NH: 48.2%
38.8%±11.5
NH: 48.2%
23.7%±29.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
40%±26.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
Rollinsford and Franklin 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%
4.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
NH: 72.8%
64.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
89%Highest
NH: 72.8%
78.2%
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
1966
13 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
16% above NH
32 min
18% above NH
37 minHighest
37% above NH
26 minLowest
about the NH average
Work from home
15.8%±6.1
NH: 16.8%
8.3%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
18.7%±6.8
NH: 16.8%
25.9%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
Rollinsford and Northwood 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 #94 of 120 in NH
School district Winnisquam Regional School District Franklin School District Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District Rollinsford School District
High school in town None in town Franklin High School Coe-Brown Northwood Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
16.2Highest
11.5Lowest
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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.