What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethlehem	Fair Haven
People
Population	2,537Lowest	2,724Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average
	Bethlehem and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Fair Haven and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem and Fair Haven 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 U.S.: 35.7%	23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fair Haven and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S.	$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kHighest 13% below U.S.	$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S.	$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.	$3,865Lowest 24% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fair Haven and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 120 in NH	#66 of 70 in VT
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Fair Haven Union Middle and High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.