Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Carroll vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
Carroll has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k 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 | Carroll | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
659Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Carroll and Meredith 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% |
7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Carroll and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% NH: 40.6% |
35.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Meredith and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
$87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH |
| Meredith 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 28% below NH |
$261,500±$42kLowest 35% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH |
$1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 19% below NH |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith 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 NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
22 min 19% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | — | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.