What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

Colebrook has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethlehem	Colebrook
People
Population	2,537Highest	1,988Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH	53.7±4.9Highest 24% above NH
	Colebrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%	13.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bethlehem and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bethlehem and Colebrook 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 NH: 40.6%	16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
	Colebrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kHighest 14% below NH	$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kHighest 28% below NH	$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH	$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Highest 19% below NH	$4,350Lowest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	50.3%±19.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Colebrook and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	13.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973 6 yrs older than NH	1973 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	21 minHighest 21% below NH
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%	5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Colebrook School District
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Highest	8.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.