Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Fairlee vs Whitefield
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 highest household income ($85k).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
Whitefield has the most affordable homes ($240k 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 | Fairlee | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
54Lowest |
2,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
63.5±7.6Highest 63% above U.S. |
51.4±4.6 32% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Whitefield 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% |
14.3%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37%±54.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Whitefield 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% |
26.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±26.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$63,125±$12k 22% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield 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. |
$240,400±$22kLowest 28% 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±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,057±$620Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$1,077±$160 24% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$3,750Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$4,394 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±55.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Whitefield 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% |
50%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
— | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.5%±30.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±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 | — | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | — | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.