Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Durham vs Carroll

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%).
Durham has the highest household income ($99k).
Carroll has the oldest population (median age 62.4).

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.

MeasureBethlehemDurhamCarroll
People
Population
2,537
4,262Highest
659Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±8.5
30% above U.S.
42.6±5.9Lowest
10% above U.S.
62.4±4.8Highest
60% above U.S.
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%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
19.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
7%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Durham 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%
16.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
39.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Durham and Carroll 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.
$99,181±$5kHighest
23% above U.S.
$64,821±$26kLowest
20% below U.S.
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
13% below U.S.
$322,200±$34kHighest
3% below U.S.
$261,500±$42kLowest
21% below U.S.
Durham and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81Highest
17% below U.S.
—
$1,078±$241Lowest
24% below U.S.
Bethlehem and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,418Highest
74% above U.S.
$3,781
21% above U.S.
$3,356Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±40.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
28%±47.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Bethlehem and Carroll 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%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
22 min
18% below U.S.
Work from home
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.9%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
4.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #14 of 133 in ME —
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District RSU 05 —
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 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.