Compare towns
Franconia vs Dorchester vs Lincoln
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 most expensive homes ($530k median).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Dorchester | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060 |
410Lowest |
1,461Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9% NH: +4.6% |
— | -1.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7 28% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
46.8±10.1Lowest 8% above NH |
| Dorchester and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lincoln and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Franconia 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% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Lincoln 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 |
— | $70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
| Franconia and Lincoln 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 |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Highest 14% below NH |
— | $1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
| Franconia and Lincoln 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 |
$3,779 43% below NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lincoln and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | — | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.4 |
| 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.