Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Exeter vs Fairlee vs Newfields
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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Fairlee | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537 |
16,151Highest |
1,066Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Fairlee 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Lowest 74% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.