Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Dorchester vs Newfields
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%).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k 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 | Dorchester | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
410Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Dorchester 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 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields 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 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester 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% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
— | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
— | $1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 19% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newfields 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Newfields 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.