Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Madison 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%).
Madison has the most expensive homes ($389k median).
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 | Madison | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
2,680Highest |
2,516Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
50.3±9.7Lowest 16% above NH |
51.4±4.6Highest 19% above NH |
| Whitefield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madison and Bethlehem 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% |
23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.6%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Whitefield 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
26.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Whitefield and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH |
$63,125±$12kLowest 36% below NH |
| Madison 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±$22k 28% below NH |
$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH |
$240,400±$22kLowest 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$1,077±$160Lowest 28% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 19% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$4,394 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Whitefield 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | Madison School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Highest |
— | 7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.