What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).

Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).

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	Atkinson
People
Population	2,537Lowest	7,267Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH	57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH
	Atkinson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bethlehem and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%	27.4%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bethlehem and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%	5.8%±4Highest NH: 6%
	Atkinson 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 14% below NH	$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH	$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH	$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH
	Bethlehem and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH	$6,918Highest 4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Atkinson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	28 minHighest 6% above NH
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%	21.1%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem and Atkinson 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	#32 of 120 in NH
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.