Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Douglas vs Sutton

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 affordable homes ($288k median).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Sutton has the most expensive homes ($523k 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.

MeasureBethlehemDouglasSutton
People
Population
2,537Lowest
9,207
9,452Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±8.5Highest
30% above U.S.
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
44.3±2.5
14% above U.S.
Bethlehem and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.2%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Douglas and Sutton 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.
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$147,125±$25k
82% above U.S.
Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,300±$22kLowest
13% below U.S.
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
$523,100±$47kHighest
57% above U.S.
Sutton and Douglas 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.
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
$1,190±$401
16% below U.S.
Douglas and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,418Lowest
74% above U.S.
$6,338
103% above U.S.
$6,763Highest
117% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±18.3
U.S.: 51.1%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.5%±24.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Sutton 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
89.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem and Sutton 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 #177 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Douglas Sutton
High school in town Profile Senior High School Douglas High School Sutton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9
7.2Lowest
12.6Highest
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.