Compare towns
Seabrook Beach vs Canterbury vs Center Harbor 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
Seabrook Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Seabrook Beach | Canterbury | Center Harbor | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,001 |
2,353Highest |
955Lowest |
1,060 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
48.6±3.8Lowest 12% above NH |
60.4±4.8 39% above NH |
55.6±7 28% above NH |
| Seabrook Beach and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 5.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Canterbury and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook Beach and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
47.1% NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,571±$43k 6% below NH |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
| Canterbury and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $920,900±$75kHighest 129% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,725±$575 16% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
— | $1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
| Canterbury and Seabrook Beach 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 |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook Beach and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Shaker Regional School District | — | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school 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.