Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Needham 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 affordable homes ($288k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Chesterfield has the most homeowners (83.6%).
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 | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Lowest |
32,459Highest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Chesterfield 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% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Chesterfield 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% 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% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
| Needham and Chesterfield 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Needham 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest 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 | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Needham | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.