Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Franconia vs South Hampton
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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
1,060 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% 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%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton 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% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Franconia and South Hampton 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 |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton and Franconia 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 |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$7,451 12% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and South Hampton 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 | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | 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 |
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.