Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Douglas vs Whitefield

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%).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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.

MeasureBethlehemDouglasWhitefield
People
Population
2,537
9,207Highest
2,516Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±8.5
30% above U.S.
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
51.4±4.6Highest
32% above U.S.
Whitefield 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
U.S.: 22%
21.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.3%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Douglas 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
U.S.: 17.2%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
28.6%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Whitefield 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
26.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Whitefield and Douglas 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
5% above U.S.
$152,267±$10kHighest
89% above U.S.
$63,125±$12kLowest
22% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$288,300±$22k
13% below U.S.
$470,600±$29kHighest
41% above U.S.
$240,400±$22kLowest
28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81
17% below U.S.
$1,503±$697Highest
6% above U.S.
$1,077±$160Lowest
24% below U.S.
Douglas and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,418
74% above U.S.
$6,338Highest
103% above U.S.
$4,394Lowest
41% 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%
47.9%±15.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitefield and Bethlehem 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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem and Douglas 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 #86 of 120 in NH
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Douglas White Mountains Regional School District
High school in town Profile Senior High School Douglas High School White Mountains Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9Highest
7.2Lowest
7.9
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.