Compare towns
Alton vs Bethlehem vs Croydon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Croydon has the youngest population (median age 43).
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 | Alton | Bethlehem | Croydon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
2,537 |
798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
43±9.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Alton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
19%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Croydon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9 NH: 6% |
4%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Croydon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$98,333±$21k about the NH average |
| Alton and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$317,300±$33k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH |
$991±$336Lowest 34% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Croydon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183 37% below NH |
$5,418Highest 19% below NH |
$3,806Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
7.1%±75.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Alton 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Croydon School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
8.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.