Compare towns
Weare vs Pembroke vs Francestown vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Pembroke | Francestown | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
7,438 |
1,398Lowest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% 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%±4 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Weare 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 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% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Chester and Weare 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 |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% 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 |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | — | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Pembroke School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.