Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Franconia vs Chesterfield
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%).
Franconia has the most expensive homes ($530k median).
Chesterfield has the most kids (21.5% under 18).
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 | Franconia | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
1,060Lowest |
3,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
46.8±8.7Lowest 8% above NH |
| Franconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.5%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chesterfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.8%±7.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Chesterfield 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 NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Franconia and Chesterfield 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 |
$87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
$102,370±$40kHighest 3% above NH |
| Chesterfield and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
$373,500±$33k 7% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,324±$1kHighest 11% below NH |
| Chesterfield and Franconia 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 |
$7,451Highest 12% above NH |
$6,344 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4 NH: 48.2% |
83.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Chesterfield and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Chesterfield 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 | — | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.