Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Millinocket vs Chesterfield
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%).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).
Chesterfield has the most expensive homes ($374k median).
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 | Millinocket | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
4,115Highest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
54.2±6.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Millinocket 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% |
16.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chesterfield and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Millinocket and Chesterfield 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% |
18.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Millinocket and Chesterfield 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 5% above U.S. |
$51,007±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield 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 13% below U.S. |
$103,800±$26kLowest 69% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$451±$130Lowest 68% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Bethlehem 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. |
$1,580Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$6,344Highest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.5%±11Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Bethlehem 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% |
17.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem and Chesterfield 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 | #98 of 133 in ME | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Millinocket Public Schools | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Stearns Jr-Sr High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.