Compare towns
Northfield vs Lancaster vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the highest household income ($93k).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (11.5%).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Northfield | Lancaster | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971 |
3,216Lowest |
8,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
42.7±2 about the NH average |
| Lancaster and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15kHighest 6% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$71,648±$4k 28% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33kHighest 28% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182 28% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,110±$68Highest 26% below NH |
| Franklin and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Highest 24% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,886 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franklin and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1959 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lancaster and Franklin 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 16.2 |
| 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.