Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Augusta vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Augusta has the most renters (46.2% rent).
Orford has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Bethlehem | Augusta | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
19,077Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.5±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Augusta 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% |
21.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Orford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Orford 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±$22kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Orford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Augusta 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Cony | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
17.9Highest |
9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.