Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Hancock vs Meredith 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 people working from home (31.2%).
Hancock has the most homeowners (85.6%).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Hancock | Meredith | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537 |
1,791Lowest |
6,758Highest |
2,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
51.4±4.6 19% above NH |
| Meredith and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Hancock 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% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.6%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hancock 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% |
53.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
26.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Whitefield and Hancock 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 |
$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$63,125±$12kLowest 36% below NH |
| Hancock and Meredith 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 |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$240,400±$22kLowest 40% below NH |
| Meredith and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,208±$650Highest 19% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,077±$160Lowest 28% below NH |
| Hancock 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 |
$6,884Highest 3% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$4,394Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | 11.1Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.