Compare towns
Alstead vs Bethlehem vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Alstead | Bethlehem | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
2,537Highest |
1,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
53.7±4.9 24% above NH |
| Alstead and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.2%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$85,029±$18kHighest 14% below NH |
$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
$288,300±$22kHighest 28% below NH |
$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH |
$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$5,418Highest 19% below NH |
$4,350Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.3%±19.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
13.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
21 min 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9Highest |
8.4Lowest |
| 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.