Compare towns
Franconia vs Lyme vs Lebanon
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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
1,710 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Franconia and Lyme 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% 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±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below NH |
21 minHighest 22% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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 | — | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Lyme School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.