Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Newfane vs Franconia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Newfane has the most homeowners (87.2%).
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
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 | Newfane | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
1,456 |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Newfane 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$87,292±$28kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$530,300±$96kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
$1,281±$278Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Franconia and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$5,174Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$7,451Highest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Lafayette Regional 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 |
U.S. 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.