What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the oldest population (median age 50.6).

Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethlehem	Arlington
People
Population	2,537Lowest	2,598Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	37.6±4Lowest 3% below U.S.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.6%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Arlington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	55.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Arlington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.	$102,308±$11kHighest 27% above U.S.
	Arlington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.	$318,500±$59kHighest 4% below U.S.
	Arlington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,191±$172Highest 16% below U.S.
	Arlington and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.	$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	77.1%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	35.9%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Arlington and Bethlehem 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	#34 of 120 in NH	#50 of 70 in VT
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Arlington School District
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Arlington Memorial
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	10.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.