Compare towns
Weare vs Dunbarton vs Gilford 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).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Dunbarton | Gilford | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
3,097 |
7,830 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown and Gilford 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% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Gilford 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% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Weare and Dunbarton 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 |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Weare 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 |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Dunbarton and Gilford 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 |
$1,166±$70 22% below NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% 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 | $6,272 6% below NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Weare 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% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Dunbarton School District | Gilford School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Gilford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
— |
| 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.