Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Eliot 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%).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
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.

MeasureBethlehemEliotCarroll
People
Population
2,537
7,146Highest
659Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±8.5Lowest
30% above U.S.
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
62.4±4.8Highest
60% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
7%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bethlehem and Eliot 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%
27.8%±6.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
39.5%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Eliot 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.
$101,522±$10kHighest
26% above U.S.
$64,821±$26kLowest
20% below U.S.
Eliot 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.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$261,500±$42kLowest
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81
17% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,078±$241Lowest
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,418Highest
74% above U.S.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
$3,356Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±18.3
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
28%±47.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot 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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
23 minHighest
15% below U.S.
22 min
18% below U.S.
Work from home
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
4.6%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bethlehem and Eliot 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 #19 of 133 in ME —
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 —
High school in town Profile Senior High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.