Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Conway vs Sunapee

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%).
Conway has the most renters (28.8% rent).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

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.

MeasureBethlehemConwaySunapee
People
Population
2,537Lowest
10,141Highest
3,416
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%
NH: +4.6%
-2.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
-0.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
50.6±8.5Lowest
17% above NH
55±4.1
27% above NH
56.7±1.4Highest
31% above NH
Sunapee and Conway 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%
12.4%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
9.9%±3.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Bethlehem and Conway 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%
35.1%±5.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
33.3%±7.1
NH: 20.1%
Conway and Sunapee 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%
37.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
50.6%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9Lowest
NH: 6%
5%±3Highest
NH: 6%
4.5%±3.5
NH: 6%
Conway and Sunapee 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
$64,385±$8kLowest
35% below NH
$101,393±$20kHighest
about the NH average
Sunapee 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±$22kLowest
28% below NH
$314,000±$43k
22% below NH
$393,000±$51kHighest
about the NH average
Sunapee and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81
21% below NH
$1,095±$141Lowest
27% below NH
$1,713±$451Highest
15% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,418Highest
19% below NH
$4,087Lowest
39% below NH
$4,400
34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±18.3
NH: 48.2%
47.3%±13.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
34.6%±10.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Conway and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.1%
NH: 7.2%
8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%
NH: 72.8%
71.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
75.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1975
4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below NH
21 min
23% below NH
33 minHighest
23% above NH
Work from home
31.2%±12.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±4.6
NH: 16.8%
9.5%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #34 of 120 in NH #76 of 120 in NH #14 of 120 in NH
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Conway School District Sunapee School District
High school in town Profile Senior High School Kennett High School Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Lowest
11.7
11.9Highest
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.