Compare towns
Franconia vs Hancock vs Lyme vs Newfields
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 most affordable homes ($437k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
1,791 |
1,710 |
2,023Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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 |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Newfields and Lyme 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±$130 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451 12% above NH |
$6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%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 |
1991Highest 12 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 |
26 min 4% 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% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Lyme School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None 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.