Compare towns
Franconia vs Seabrook Beach vs Newbury 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).
Seabrook Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Newbury has the highest household income ($116k).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
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 | Seabrook Beach | Newbury | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060 |
1,001Lowest |
2,027 |
2,537Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7 28% above NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
53.3±3.6 23% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
| Seabrook Beach 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% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Newbury 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% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook Beach 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53% NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Newbury 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 |
$93,571±$43k 6% below NH |
$116,477±$18kHighest 18% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
| Newbury and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$920,900±$75kHighest 129% above NH |
$463,400±$36k 15% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,725±$575Highest 16% above NH |
— | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
| Seabrook Beach 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 |
$5,695 15% below NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4 NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Franconia 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% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook Beach and Bethlehem 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 | — | — | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school 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.