Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Effingham vs Ossipee
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%).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
Ossipee has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Effingham | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
1,912Lowest |
4,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
24.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Ossipee and Effingham 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 14% below NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH |
| Ossipee 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±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH |
| Ossipee and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 19% below NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee 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 NH: 7.2% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Effingham 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 | — | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.