Compare towns

Bethlehem vs Hancock vs Wilder

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Hancock has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

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.

MeasureBethlehemHancockWilder
People
Population
2,537
1,791Lowest
3,087Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±8.5
30% above U.S.
53.8±4.5Highest
38% above U.S.
45.5±8.9Lowest
17% above U.S.
Hancock and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±2.2
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bethlehem and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.2%±5.5
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hancock 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilder 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
5% above U.S.
$95,208±$15kHighest
18% above U.S.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
Hancock 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
13% below U.S.
$436,700±$22kHighest
31% above U.S.
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,174±$81
17% below U.S.
$1,208±$650Highest
15% below U.S.
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
Hancock and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,418Lowest
74% above U.S.
$6,884Highest
121% above U.S.
$5,505
76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.3%±18.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.4%±55.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Bethlehem and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
23% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
Work from home
31.2%±12.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #34 of 120 in NH — —
School district Bethlehem School District · Profile School District Contoocook Valley School District —
High school in town Profile Senior High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
8.9
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.