What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

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	Franklin
People
Population	2,537Lowest	8,799Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH	42.7±2Lowest about the NH average
	Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.8%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Franklin 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 NH: 20.1%	21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bethlehem and Franklin 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 NH: 40.6%	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%	3.2%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kHighest 14% below NH	$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH
	Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kHighest 28% below NH	$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH
	Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH	$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH
	Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Highest 19% below NH	$4,886Lowest 27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2%	38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Bethlehem and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	32 minHighest 18% above NH
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%	8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 120 in NH	#112 of 120 in NH
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Franklin School District
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Franklin High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	16.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.