Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Fairlee vs Newfane vs Townshend
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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Newfane has the most homeowners (87.2%).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Newfane | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,456 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9 40% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Townshend 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% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Fairlee 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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. |
$74,760±$10k 7% below U.S. |
$66,719±$21kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Bethlehem and Townshend 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. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Townshend 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. |
$1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
$1,266±$238Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Newfane 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. |
$5,617Highest 80% above U.S. |
$5,174Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Townshend 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.8%±12.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Highest |
— | — | 8.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.