What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bethlehem	Jay
People
Population	2,537Highest	471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S.	52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S.
	Jay 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%	14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bethlehem and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1% U.S.: 35.7%	45.1% U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	1.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Jay and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kHighest 5% above U.S.	$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kHighest 13% below U.S.	$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S.
	Bethlehem and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81 17% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Highest 74% above U.S.	$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bethlehem and Jay 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%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	40 minHighest 50% above U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	27.3%±13.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bethlehem and Jay 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	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 History	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.