Compare towns
Franconia vs Newbury vs Hampton vs Bethlehem
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).
Newbury has the highest household income ($116k).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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 | Newbury | Hampton | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
2,027 |
16,426Highest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7 28% above NH |
53.3±3.6 23% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
| Hampton and Franconia 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% |
17%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Newbury 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% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
53% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
$116,477±$18kHighest 18% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Newbury and Hampton 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 |
$463,400±$36k 15% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| 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 |
— | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Hampton and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Highest 12% above NH |
$5,695 15% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Hampton 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Hampton 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 | — | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| 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.