What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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	Franconia	Amherst
People
Population	1,060Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.6±7Highest 28% above NH	45.9±3.5Lowest 6% above NH
	Franconia and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Amherst and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1%	20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	65.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±5.4Highest NH: 6%	3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Franconia and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH	$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$530,300±$96kLowest 32% above NH	$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH
	Amherst and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH	$1,462±$256Highest about the NH average
	Amherst and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,451Lowest 12% above NH	$9,773Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2%	31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Franconia and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below NH	33 minHighest 22% above NH
Work from home	11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Lafayette Regional School District	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	None in town	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.4
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.