Compare towns
Franconia vs Salisbury 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 most expensive homes ($530k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Salisbury | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
1,609 |
2,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
51.5±4.5 19% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
| Franconia and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Bethlehem 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% |
24.9%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Bethlehem 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% |
37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Salisbury 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 |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Salisbury 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±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Salisbury 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 |
$5,859 12% below NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Bethlehem 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% |
7.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Salisbury 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 | Merrimack Valley 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 History | 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.