Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Mapleton vs Sunapee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sunapee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Mapleton | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
1,884Lowest |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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 5% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bethlehem and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 120 in NH | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Sunapee School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.