Compare towns
Franconia vs Lyme vs Portsmouth vs Wilmot
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 most people working from home (27.2%).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
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 | Portsmouth | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
1,710 |
22,545Highest |
1,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
| Franconia and Wilmot 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%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Wilmot 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% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Portsmouth 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 |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Lyme and Wilmot 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±$64k 60% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Lyme 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±$130 5% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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 | — | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Lyme School District | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.