What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethlehem	Brookline
People
Population	2,537Lowest	5,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+13%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH	41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH
	Bethlehem and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Brookline 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 NH: 20.1%	11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	57.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%	6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH	$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH	$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH	$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2%	23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Bethlehem and Brookline 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%	0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	95.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	33 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%	24.7%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem and Brookline 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	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Brookline School District
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.