Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Dummer 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
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
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 | Bethlehem | Dummer | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
299Lowest |
1,060 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
53.6±6.4 24% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
| Franconia and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dummer and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 45.1% NH: 40.6% |
16.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9 NH: 6% |
0%±5.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$91,250±$21kHighest 8% below NH |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
| Dummer and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
$242,200±$51kLowest 40% below NH |
$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
— | $1,281±$278Highest 14% below NH |
| Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 19% below NH |
$2,898Lowest 57% below NH |
$7,451Highest 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
25 minHighest 6% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.