Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Needham vs Whitefield
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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Whitefield has the most renters (37.4% rent).
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 | Needham | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
32,459Highest |
2,516Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 30% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.4±4.6Highest 32% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whitefield and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$63,125±$12kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$240,400±$22kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,077±$160Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 74% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,394Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.9%±15.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Whitefield 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Bethlehem 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | — | 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 |
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.