Compare towns
Franconia vs Newfields vs Dorchester 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).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
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 | Newfields | Dorchester | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060 |
2,023 |
410Lowest |
2,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7 28% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
| Dorchester 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Bethlehem 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester 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% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Franconia 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
— | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
— | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | — | 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 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.