Compare towns
Lyme vs Newington vs Hancock 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%).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Newington | Hancock | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
939Lowest |
1,791Highest |
1,060 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
| Franconia and Hancock 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% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newington 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% |
28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Hancock 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% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Hancock 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 |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
| Newington 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Newington 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lyme School District | Newington School District | Contoocook Valley 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.