Francestown

Hillsborough CountyMerrimack ValleyPopulation: 1,610

Overview

Francestown is a small, rural town in Hillsborough County's Monadnock Region, with a well-preserved historic village center and surrounding farmland. The town has intentionally limited commercial development.

Francestown's rural roads and conservation land offer hiking, while the town's proximity to Peterborough and Bennington provides access to shopping and services. The historic village includes several notable 19th-century buildings.

Housing in Francestown tends toward larger, rural lots, drawing families and retirees who want Monadnock Region character and quiet, small-town living.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Historic village
  • Rural character
  • Quiet
  • Scenic beauty

Cons

  • Limited services
  • No downtown
  • Small population

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Francestown.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$15.60
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$15.66
Equalization ratio: 100%
Municipal
$4.40
Local School
$9.20
State Education
$1.08
County
$0.92

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$15.60$15.66$4.40$9.20$1.08$0.92

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$3,900$325
$350,000$5,460$455
$500,000$7,800$650
$750,000$11,700$975
$1,000,000$15,600$1,300

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $15.60 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
79°F
Winter Avg High
35.4°F
Annual Snowfall
59.2 in
Annual Rainfall
49.1 in
Sunny Days/Year
266
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
73 mi
~103 min drive
Manchester
22 mi
~46 min drive
Portsmouth
69 mi
~102 min drive
Concord
31 mi
~59 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMapUpdated 7/3/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
31/100
Trail Miles
32.3
0
Boat Launches
1
00

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:0 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
0

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income
$105,347
Per Capita Income
$49,205
Median Family Income
$106,389

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$350,300
Median Rent
$1,153/mo
Homeownership Rate
95.5%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate
2.49%
In Labor Force
722

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
29.15%
Total with Degree
300

👥Demographics

Median Age
50.3 years
Avg Household Size
2.63 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year)Census Data Year: 2022Updated 7/3/2026

Compare Francestown with Other Towns

See how Francestown stacks up against other NH communities.