Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Hanover 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 affordable homes ($288k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Franconia has the most homeowners (83.1%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
11,685Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
| 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%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 24% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.