Compare towns
Weare vs Goffstown vs Dunbarton 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).
Goffstown has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Goffstown | Dunbarton | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
18,513Highest |
3,097 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown and Dunbarton 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% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Dunbarton 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% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Dunbarton 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% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% 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±$26k about the NH average |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% 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 |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Lowest 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% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Goffstown School District | Dunbarton School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Goffstown High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— | — |
| 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.