What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).

Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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	Franconia	Ashland
People
Population	1,060Lowest	2,183Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.6±7Highest 28% above NH	42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average
	Franconia and Ashland 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%	21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Ashland 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%	25.8%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Franconia and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±5.4Highest NH: 6%	2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Franconia and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,292±$28kHighest 12% below NH	$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH
	Franconia and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH	$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,281±$278Highest 14% below NH	$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH
	Franconia and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,451Highest 12% above NH	$4,961Lowest 26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2%	39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Franconia and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	21.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.1%Lowest 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	26 minHighest 4% below NH
Work from home	11.9%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%	9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Franconia and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lafayette Regional School District	Ashland 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.