Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Hampton Beach vs Whitefield
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 kids (17.7% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
2,605Highest |
2,516Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
51.4±4.6 19% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.6%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
26.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kHighest 14% below NH |
$82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$63,125±$12kLowest 36% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Hampton Beach 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 |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$240,400±$22kLowest 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,375±$130Highest 8% below NH |
$1,077±$160Lowest 28% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 19% below NH |
$6,115Highest 8% below NH |
$4,394Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Whitefield 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% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9% NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Hampton Beach 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 |
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.