Compare towns
Franconia vs Nelson vs South Hampton
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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Nelson | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Highest |
648Lowest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Franconia and South Hampton 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton 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% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Franconia and South Hampton 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 |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Nelson School District | South Hampton 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.