Compare towns
Rye vs Bethlehem 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
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Bethlehem has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Franklin has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
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 | Rye | Bethlehem | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
2,537Lowest |
8,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
| Rye and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Franklin and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rye and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Highest 13% above NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.