Compare towns
Franconia vs Exeter 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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($342k 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 | Exeter | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
46.8±10.1 8% above NH |
| Franconia and Lincoln 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lincoln and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Lincoln 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$342,000±$38kLowest 15% below NH |
| Franconia and Exeter 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451 12% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Lincoln 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.