Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Jefferson 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%).
Jefferson has the most homeowners (90.5%).
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 | Jefferson | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
1,013Lowest |
2,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Lowest 17% above NH |
58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
51.4±4.6 19% above NH |
| Jefferson 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 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.6%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Jefferson and Whitefield 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 NH: 40.6% |
28.4% NH: 40.6% |
26.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Whitefield and Jefferson 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 14% below NH |
$67,188±$13k 32% below NH |
$63,125±$12kLowest 36% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Jefferson 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 |
$296,700±$92kHighest 26% below NH |
$240,400±$22kLowest 40% below NH |
| Jefferson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Highest 21% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,077±$160 28% below NH |
| 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 19% below NH |
$4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,394 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
35 minHighest 29% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Jefferson 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 | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | — | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| 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.