Compare towns
Franconia vs Lyme vs Bethlehem vs Lincoln
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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Lincoln has the most renters (28% rent).
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 | Lyme | Bethlehem | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
1,710 |
2,537Highest |
1,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
46.8±10.1Lowest 8% above NH |
| Franconia and Bethlehem 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Lincoln 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% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7 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% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
38.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$342,000±$38k 15% below 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 |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,143±$498Lowest 23% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Lyme School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| 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.