Compare towns
Franconia vs New London 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
New London has the most homeowners (90.8%).
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 | New London | Portsmouth | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
4,433 |
22,545Highest |
1,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
52.8±6.7 22% 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% |
12%±3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wilmot and Franconia 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% |
37.5%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| New London 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
20.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$107,773±$10k 9% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$117,759±$15kHighest 19% above NH |
| Wilmot and New London 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 |
$554,100±$64k 38% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,594±$551 7% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Portsmouth and New London 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 |
$6,325Lowest 5% below NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$6,651 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
71.8%±22.4 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and New London 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% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% 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 |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Wilmot 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 | — | #17 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Kearsarge Regional 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.