Compare towns
Auburn vs Bethlehem vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Auburn | Bethlehem | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Highest |
2,537 |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
| Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
| Auburn and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
| Auburn and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Auburn School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.