What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Canton 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	Canton
People
Population	2,537Lowest	24,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Canton 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%	22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Canton 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 U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.	$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.	$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.	$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S.	$6,560Highest 110% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.4%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canton and Bethlehem 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%	5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	25.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem and Canton 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	#81 of 282 in MA
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.