Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Franklin vs Rye
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Franklin has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Franklin | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
8,799Highest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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% NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Franklin and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye 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±$22k 28% below NH |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 19% below NH |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$7,519Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rye and Bethlehem 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Rye 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Franklin School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Franklin High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
16.2Highest |
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| 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.