Compare towns
Franconia vs Hancock vs Lebanon
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).
Hancock has the most homeowners (85.6%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Hancock | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
1,791 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Franconia and Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hancock 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% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Hancock 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% |
53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
| Lebanon and Hancock 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 |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Franconia and Hancock 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 |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451 12% above NH |
$6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Lebanon 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.