Compare towns
Franconia vs Wells vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
11,713Highest |
2,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8 38% above U.S. |
50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Franconia and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia and Wells 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Wells 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 8% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Wells 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 59% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Franconia and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278 9% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Wells and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Highest 139% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$5,418 74% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #34 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Profile Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
8.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.