What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

Canaan has the youngest population (median age 44.4).

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	Canaan
People
Population	2,537Lowest	3,811Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average
	Bethlehem and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%	14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bethlehem and Canaan 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%	19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bethlehem and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kHighest 14% below NH	$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH
	Bethlehem and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kHighest 28% below NH	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH
	Bethlehem and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH
	Bethlehem and Canaan 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	$5,985Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	77.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	30 minHighest 12% above NH
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem and Canaan 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	#83 of 120 in NH
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Mascoma Valley Regional School District
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Mascoma Valley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	10.3Highest
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.