Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Chesterfield vs Ogunquit vs Orford
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Chesterfield has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Chesterfield | Ogunquit | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537 |
3,622Highest |
1,379 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1kHighest 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Bethlehem 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 | #52 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Chesterfield School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | — | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | — | 9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.