Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Jay vs Whitefield
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 kids (17.7% under 18).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Jay | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
471Lowest |
2,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 30% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
51.4±4.6 32% above U.S. |
| Jay and Whitefield 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% |
14.3%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Whitefield 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitefield and Jay 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±$25k 7% below U.S. |
$63,125±$12kLowest 22% 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. |
$240,400±$22k 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 17% below U.S. |
— | $1,077±$160Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,394 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whitefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.