Compare towns
Franconia vs Durham vs Newbury vs Sugar Hill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newbury has the most kids (17% under 18).
Sugar Hill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.9%).
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 | Newbury | Sugar Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060 |
15,080Highest |
2,027 |
658Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+14.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7 28% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
53.3±3.6 23% above NH |
60.8±2.1Highest 40% above NH |
| Sugar Hill 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newbury 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.6%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
37.2%±12.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sugar Hill 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% |
53%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$116,477±$18k 18% above NH |
$154,091±$32kHighest 56% above NH |
| Sugar Hill and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$463,400±$36kLowest 15% above NH |
$639,700±$50kHighest 59% above NH |
| Sugar Hill and Franconia 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 |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
— | $1,208±$630Lowest 19% 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 |
$5,695Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,340 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
40%±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% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1964Lowest 15 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Newbury 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 | — | — |
| 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 | 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.