Compare towns
Wilmot vs Portsmouth vs Lyme 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
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Portsmouth | Lyme | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,487 |
22,545Highest |
1,710 |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±2.4 22% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Wilmot 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% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Portsmouth 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 |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lyme 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 |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,651Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest 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 | 2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Portsmouth School District | Lyme School District | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.