Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Durham vs Dublin
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 people working from home (31.2%).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
15,080Highest |
1,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.3±8.4 14% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dublin and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$104,659±$14k 6% above NH |
| Durham and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$430,500±$72k 7% above NH |
| Durham and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,325±$165 11% below NH |
| Durham and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,165 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Dublin 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.