Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Brookfield 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
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 | Brookfield | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
1,486 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
47±5.9Lowest 21% 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookfield 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% |
29.7%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookfield 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% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Brookfield 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 5% above U.S. |
$98,500±$23kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Brookfield and Orford 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. |
$339,300±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$975±$306Lowest 31% 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. |
$4,560Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Brookfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.