What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).

Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Merrimac
People
Population	2,537Lowest	6,748Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	49.4±6.8Lowest 27% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bethlehem and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bethlehem and Merrimac 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 U.S.: 35.7%	41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Merrimac and Bethlehem 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.	$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.	$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.	$1,352±$325Highest 4% below U.S.
	Merrimac and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S.	$7,399Highest 137% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Merrimac 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 U.S.: 12.5%	9.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	32 minHighest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 120 in NH	#188 of 282 in MA
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Pentucket
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.