What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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	Stratham	Francestown
People
Population	7,754Highest	1,398Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH	51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH
Kids under 18	23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2%	19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Stratham and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Francestown and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Stratham and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH	$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH	$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH	$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,781Highest 47% above NH	$8,014Lowest 20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	64%±38.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2%
	Francestown and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	95.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	42 minHighest 57% above NH
Work from home	25.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Francestown and Stratham 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	#43 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.