Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Franconia vs Orford
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%).
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
Orford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
1,060Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
48.9±3.3Lowest 13% 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% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH |
| Orford 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 |
$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,281±$278Highest 14% below NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
| Franconia and Orford 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 |
$7,451Highest 12% above NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest 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% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.