What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most homeowners (75.3%).

Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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	Lebanon
People
Population	2,537Lowest	14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH	38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2%	14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bethlehem and Lebanon 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%	21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bethlehem and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	57.5%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%	6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH	$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average
	Lebanon and Bethlehem 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	$385,400±$29kHighest 4% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH	$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH	$8,149Highest 22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lebanon and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 24% below NH	14 minLowest 48% below NH
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%	22.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem and Lebanon 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	#29 of 120 in NH
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Lebanon School District
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	11.7Highest
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.