Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Sunapee 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 people working from home (31.2%).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Sunapee | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
3,416Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
55.6±7 28% above NH |
| Sunapee and Franconia 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% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Sunapee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Sunapee 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 |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
| Sunapee 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 |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
| Franconia and Sunapee 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 |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
| Sunapee and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 19% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$7,451Highest 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Sunapee School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.