Compare towns
Weare vs Sheldon vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the highest household income ($118k).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Sheldon | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
2,267 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51.2±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
| 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%±4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Weare and Francestown 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 46% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$104,063±$16k 29% above U.S. |
| Weare and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$408,200±$34kHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Francestown and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,358±$256 4% below U.S. |
| Weare and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 101% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$8,014Highest 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±77Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.