Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Jackson vs Carroll
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Carroll has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Jackson | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
897 |
659Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
60.5±2.5 40% above NH |
62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
| Carroll and Jackson 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% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Jackson and Carroll 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 |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$261,500±$42kLowest 35% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$6,001Highest 10% below NH |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Carroll 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
22 minHighest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Jackson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Jackson 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 |
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.