Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Brewer vs Chesterfield
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%).
Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Chesterfield has the most expensive homes ($374k median).
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 | Brewer | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
9,652Highest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Brewer 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% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield 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% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield 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±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield 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. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Brewer 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Chesterfield 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 133 in ME | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Brewer Public Schools | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
14.0Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.