Compare towns
Plymouth vs Franconia vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth | Franconia | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601Highest |
1,060Lowest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% 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 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest 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+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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 | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
20 min 25% below NH |
21 minHighest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.