Compare towns
Franconia vs Lyme vs Bethlehem vs Sugar Hill
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).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Sugar Hill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.9%).
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 | Sugar Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060 |
1,710 |
2,537Highest |
658Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7 28% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
60.8±2.1Highest 40% above NH |
| Sugar Hill 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Bethlehem 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% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
37.2%±12.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sugar Hill 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59% 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% |
2%±3.1 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±$15k 35% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$154,091±$32kHighest 56% above NH |
| Sugar Hill and Lyme 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 |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$639,700±$50k 59% above NH |
| Lyme and Sugar Hill 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±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,208±$630 19% 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 |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$7,340 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1964Lowest 15 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.8%±4.8 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.