Compare towns
Franconia vs Amesbury vs Nelson vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k 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 | Franconia | Amesbury | Nelson | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060 |
17,403Highest |
648Lowest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 57.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28k 8% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49k about the U.S. average |
$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Franconia and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278 9% below U.S. |
$1,683±$115Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Highest 139% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Bethlehem 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 | — | #151 of 282 in MA | — | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Amesbury | Nelson School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
— | 8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.