Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Castleton | Fair Haven | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537 |
4,453Highest |
2,724 |
2,516Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
51.4±4.6Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Whitefield 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitefield and Bethlehem 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$63,125±$12k 22% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
$240,400±$22k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,077±$160 24% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$4,394 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | 12.8Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.