Compare towns
Wilmot vs Franconia vs Lyme vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Francestown has the most homeowners (95.3%).
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 | Wilmot | Franconia | Lyme | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,487 |
1,060Lowest |
1,710Highest |
1,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±2.4 22% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
| Franconia and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
| Lyme and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Lyme and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,651Lowest about the NH average |
$7,451 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.4% NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Lafayette Regional School District | Lyme School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school 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.