What stands out worked out from the figures below

Franconia has the most homeowners (83.1%).

Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Franconia	Portsmouth
People
Population	1,060Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.6±7Highest 28% above NH	42.9±2Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	15.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2%	14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Franconia and Portsmouth 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%	21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	64%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±5.4Highest NH: 6%	3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Franconia and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH	$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH
	Portsmouth and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$530,300±$96kLowest 32% above NH	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH	$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,451Lowest 12% above NH	$8,018Highest 20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2%	50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Franconia and Portsmouth 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%	6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 25% below NH	22 minHighest 17% below NH
Work from home	11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	Lafayette Regional School District	Portsmouth School District
High school 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

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.