Compare towns
Franconia vs Windham 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Sugar Hill has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Windham | Sugar Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060 |
16,038Highest |
658Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+14.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7 28% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below 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%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$154,091±$32k 56% above NH |
| Windham and Sugar Hill 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 |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$639,700±$50k 59% above NH |
| Windham and Sugar Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,208±$630Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,340Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Windham 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% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1964Lowest 15 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Sugar Hill 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.