Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Exeter vs Chesterfield
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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Chesterfield has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
46.8±8.7 8% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Chesterfield 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chesterfield 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.8%±7.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Chesterfield 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$102,370±$40k 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Chesterfield 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$373,500±$33k 7% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,324±$1k 11% below NH |
| Exeter and Chesterfield 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,344 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
83.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Chesterfield and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.