Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Lancaster vs Walpole
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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k 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 | Lancaster | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
3,216 |
3,690Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
46.5±10.4 7% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Walpole 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% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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 NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Walpole and Lancaster 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 |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Walpole 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
| Walpole 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 |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Walpole 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 |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | 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.