Compare towns
Franconia vs Bow vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Bow | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bethlehem 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% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Franconia 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 12% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Franconia and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Bow and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451 12% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 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 | 11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Bow School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.