Compare towns
Franconia vs Durham 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 most homeowners (83.1%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
10,681Highest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% 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%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Durham and Franconia 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Franconia and Durham 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 |
$1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
20 minHighest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | — | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
| 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.