Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Durham 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%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Franconia has the most homeowners (83.1%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
15,080Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below 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 | 17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Franconia 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
| Durham 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±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
| Franconia and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
| Durham and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 24% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Durham 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.