Compare towns
Lyme vs Henniker vs Newfields vs Franconia
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%).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Henniker | Newfields | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
6,197Highest |
2,023 |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
55.6±7Highest 28% 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 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest 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% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | — | #56 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Henniker School District | Newfields School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.