Compare towns
Lyme vs Franconia vs New London
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
New London has the most homeowners (90.8%).
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 | Lyme | Franconia | New London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,060Lowest |
4,433Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
52.8±6.7 22% above NH |
| Franconia and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
12%±3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7 NH: 20.1% |
37.5%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New London and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
20.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$107,773±$10k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$530,300±$96kLowest 32% above NH |
$554,100±$64k 38% above NH |
| Lyme and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,594±$551Highest 7% above NH |
| New London and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
$6,325Lowest 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
71.8%±22.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
90.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and New London 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 | — | — | #17 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.