Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Durham vs Newfields vs Whitefield
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 the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Newfields | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537 |
15,080Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
51.4±4.6Highest 19% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields 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 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
28.6%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
26.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$63,125±$12kLowest 36% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$240,400±$22kLowest 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,077±$160Lowest 28% below NH |
| Newfields and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,394Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Whitefield 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Newfields 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 | — | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
12.3Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.