Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Fairlee vs Orford
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 kids (17.7% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
Orford has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Fairlee | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
54Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | 0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Lowest 26% 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%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Orford 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% |
37%±54.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
11.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Orford 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±$22kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$277,500±$28k 17% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,057±$620Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Orford and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,836Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Bethlehem 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% |
50%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
— | 26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.5%±30.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Fairlee 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | — | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 9.5Highest |
| 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.