Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Exeter vs Orford
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%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
16,151Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Orford 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
| Exeter and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
| Exeter and Orford 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 |
$5,836 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Exeter High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
9.5 |
| 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.