Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Franconia vs Hampton Falls vs Newfields
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 affordable homes ($288k median).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Franconia | Hampton Falls | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
1,060Lowest |
2,328 |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| 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%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Newfields 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% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Franconia 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 |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Hampton Falls 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 |
$7,451 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Newfields 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% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Newfields 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Hampton Falls School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.