Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Lebanon vs Sunapee
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%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
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 | Lebanon | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
14,999Highest |
3,416 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
| Sunapee and Bethlehem 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% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest 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%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee and Lebanon 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±$29k 4% below NH |
$393,000±$51kHighest about the NH average |
| Sunapee and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
| Lebanon and Sunapee 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 |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest 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 | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Lebanon School District | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Lebanon High School | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.7 |
11.9Highest |
| 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.