What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

Laconia 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	Laconia
People
Population	2,537Lowest	17,085Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH	45.3±3.9Lowest 5% above NH
	Bethlehem and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Laconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%	22.8%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bethlehem and Laconia 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%	27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kHighest 14% below NH	$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH
	Bethlehem and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH	$340,300±$16kHighest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH	$1,224±$107Highest 18% below NH
	Laconia and Bethlehem 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	$4,484Lowest 33% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Laconia and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	12.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 24% below NH	17 minLowest 36% below NH
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%	13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 120 in NH	#105 of 120 in NH
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Laconia School District
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Laconia High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	10.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.