Compare towns
Franconia vs Hancock vs Lyme
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
1,791Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above 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%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hancock 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% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Hancock 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme 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 |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
| Lyme 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 |
$6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.