Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Durham vs Carroll
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 kids (17.7% under 18).
Durham has the most expensive homes ($498k median).
Carroll has the oldest population (median age 62.4).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
10,681Highest |
659Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
| Carroll 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 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
| Durham and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$261,500±$42kLowest 35% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
| Durham and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 19% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
22 minHighest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.