Compare towns
Franconia vs Lincoln vs Orford
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).
Lincoln has the most people working from home (16.3%).
Orford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Lincoln | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
1,461Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
46.8±10.1Lowest 8% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Franconia and Orford 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% |
19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lincoln 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% |
28.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Lincoln 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% |
38.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
$92,571±$24kHighest 7% below NH |
| Orford 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 |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Highest 14% below NH |
$1,143±$498Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
| Franconia and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Highest 12% above NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Lincoln 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% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lincoln and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.4Lowest |
9.5Highest |
| 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.