Compare towns
Weare vs Atkinson vs Chester vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Atkinson has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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.
| Measure | Weare | Atkinson | Chester | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
7,267 |
5,300 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
| Atkinson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
— | $1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Weare and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.8% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Chester School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | 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 | 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.