What stands out worked out from the figures below

Francestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Francestown	Lyme
People
Population	1,398Lowest	1,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH	48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH
	Francestown and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Francestown and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lyme and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	70.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%
	Lyme and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH	$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH
	Lyme and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,358±$256Lowest 9% below NH	$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH
	Lyme and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,014Lowest 20% above NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2%	52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Francestown and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	42 minHighest 57% above NH	21 minLowest 22% below NH
Work from home	27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8%	27.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Francestown and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Contoocook Valley School District	Lyme School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.