Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Danvers vs Franconia
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%).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Franconia has the most homeowners (83.1%).
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 | Danvers | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
28,098Highest |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
55.6±7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Franconia 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Danvers 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% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Franconia 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franconia and Danvers 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. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$87,292±$28k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$530,300±$96k 59% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,281±$278 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Lowest 74% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$7,451Highest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±74.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Franconia and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Danvers 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.