Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Orford
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%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Dummerston | Middlesex | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
2,090 |
1,943 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Orford 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% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Orford 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. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dummerston 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Middlesex 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | — | 9.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.