Compare towns

Franconia vs Newfane vs Bethlehem

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
Newfane has the most homeowners (87.2%).
Bethlehem has the most kids (17.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureFranconiaNewfaneBethlehem
People
Population
1,060Lowest
1,456
2,537Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
55.6±7Highest
43% above U.S.
54.4±3.9
40% above U.S.
50.6±8.5Lowest
30% above U.S.
Franconia and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.2%±5.5
U.S.: 22%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bethlehem 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
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
28.2%±5.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Franconia and Newfane 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
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Franconia and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,292±$28kHighest
8% above U.S.
$66,719±$21kLowest
17% below U.S.
$85,029±$18k
5% above U.S.
Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$530,300±$96kHighest
59% above U.S.
$284,200±$49kLowest
15% below U.S.
$288,300±$22k
13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,281±$278Highest
9% below U.S.
$1,266±$238
10% below U.S.
$1,174±$81Lowest
17% below U.S.
Franconia and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,451Highest
139% above U.S.
$5,174Lowest
66% above U.S.
$5,418
74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
73.2%±74.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.9%±79.7
U.S.: 51.1%
41.3%±18.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Franconia and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
20 min
23% below U.S.
Work from home
11.9%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.8%±12.5
U.S.: 15.1%
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem and Newfane 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 — — #34 of 120 in NH
School district Lafayette Regional School District West River Valley Union Education District #72A Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town None in town None in town Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
8.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.