Compare towns
Franconia vs Hancock vs Lyme vs Easton
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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Easton has the most homeowners (98.7%).
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 | Easton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060 |
1,791Highest |
1,710 |
356Lowest |
| 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±7 28% above NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
60.1±7.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Easton 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% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.7%±4.3Lowest 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%±6.7 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
41%±19Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Easton 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% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1.1%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$106,250±$38k 7% above NH |
| Lyme and Easton 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 |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$426,100±$78kLowest 6% 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 |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,577Lowest 46% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
10.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
98.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
25 min 6% 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% |
13.6%±4.2 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 | 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.