Compare towns
Weare vs Plaistow vs Francestown vs Epping
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).
Plaistow has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Francestown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Plaistow | Francestown | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
7,861 |
1,398Lowest |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Francestown and Weare 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%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping 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% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Epping 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±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Weare and Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
| Epping and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Francestown 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Epping 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | — | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.4Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| 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.