Compare towns
Lee vs Franconia vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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 | Lee | Franconia | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Highest |
1,060Lowest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.