Compare towns
Franconia vs Lyme vs Francestown
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 the highest household income ($134k).
Francestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
1,710Highest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
| Franconia and Francestown 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%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Lyme 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest 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±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
| Lyme and Francestown 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 |
$408,200±$34kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Lyme and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Francestown 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Lyme School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.