Compare towns
Weare vs Somersworth vs Hillsborough 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 highest household income ($118k).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Hillsborough 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 | Somersworth | Hillsborough | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
12,111Highest |
5,980 |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% 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% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Somersworth 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% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Hillsborough 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% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$408,200±$34kHighest about the NH average |
| 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 3% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Weare and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
41 min 54% above NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Somersworth School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | Somersworth High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
11.4Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.