Compare towns
Franconia vs Durham vs Dorchester
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 kids (15.2% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060 |
15,080Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±7 28% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% 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%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Franconia and Dorchester 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% 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±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% 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 |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Dorchester 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 | — |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.