Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Bow vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Bow | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
8,335 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Hampton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Hampton 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
| Hampton and Bow 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 |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Bow School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Bow High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
10.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.