Compare towns
Franconia vs Orford vs Sugar Hill
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 most kids (15.2% under 18).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Sugar Hill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.9%).
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 | Orford | Sugar Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060 |
1,295Highest |
658Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
+14.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7 28% above NH |
48.9±3.3Lowest 13% above NH |
60.8±2.1Highest 40% above NH |
| Sugar Hill and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Franconia and Orford 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% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
37.2%±12.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sugar Hill 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% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
$154,091±$32kHighest 56% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$639,700±$50kHighest 59% above NH |
| Sugar Hill and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Highest 14% below NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
$1,208±$630Lowest 19% below NH |
| Franconia and Orford 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 |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
$7,340 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Sugar Hill 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% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1964Lowest 15 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sugar Hill and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.