What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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	Needham
People
Population	2,537Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S.	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Bethlehem and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S.	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,418Lowest 74% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 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.
Work from home	31.2%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest 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
School district	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District	Needham
High school in town	Profile Senior High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.9Lowest	11.9Highest
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.