Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Bradford vs Fairlee

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%).
Bradford has the highest household income ($108k).
Fairlee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

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.

MeasureBethlehemBradfordFairlee
People
Population
2,537
2,827Highest
1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±8.5
30% above U.S.
42.7±3.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
56.2±8.7Highest
44% above U.S.
Fairlee 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
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.2%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bradford 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
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Fairlee 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
0.7%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Fairlee 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±$18k
5% above U.S.
$108,162±$15kHighest
34% above U.S.
$74,760±$10kLowest
7% below U.S.
Bradford 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.
$258,600±$30kLowest
22% below U.S.
$274,200±$39k
18% below U.S.
Bethlehem and Fairlee 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.
$1,221±$808Highest
14% below U.S.
$1,083±$242Lowest
23% below U.S.
Bradford 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.
$4,472Lowest
43% above U.S.
$5,617Highest
80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±18.3
U.S.: 51.1%
27.9%±23.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
89.2%±71.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Fairlee 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%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
25 minHighest
7% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
Work from home
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.7%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15%±7.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem and Fairlee 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 #45 of 70 in VT —
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town Profile Senior High School Oxbow Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
9.5Highest
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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.