Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Middlesex 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Sunapee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
1,943Lowest |
3,416Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$101,393±$20k 26% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Middlesex 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 | — | #14 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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.