What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).

Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Franconia	Lee
People
Population	1,060Lowest	4,576Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.6±7Highest 28% above NH	42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lee 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%	22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±5.4Lowest NH: 6%	5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Lee 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	$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH
	Lee 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	$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH
	Franconia and Lee 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	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,451Lowest 12% above NH	$9,661Highest 45% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2%	38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Franconia and Lee 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%	2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	95.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below NH	28 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#3 of 120 in NH
School district	Lafayette Regional School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	10 photos →

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.