Compare towns
Weare vs Henniker 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).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Henniker | Chester | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
6,197 |
5,300 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
| Francestown and Chester 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% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest 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% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Chester 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% |
41.4% 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% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
| Chester 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 |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% 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 |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest 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% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.5%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 |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older 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 |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Henniker 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.