Compare towns
Lyme vs Franconia vs Windham
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 the most people working from home (27.2%).
Franconia has the most affordable homes ($530k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,060Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 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 | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$530,300±$96kLowest 32% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Windham and Lyme 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 |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest 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 | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Windham 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 | Lyme School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | None 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.