Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Carroll vs Plainfield
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 people working from home (31.2%).
Carroll has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k 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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
659Lowest |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Carroll and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% NH: 40.6% |
35.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
$261,500±$42kLowest 35% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 19% below NH |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Plainfield 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% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
22 min 19% below NH |
22 minHighest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — | Plainfield 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 | 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.